The Sea Hotel, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western, South Shields

The The Sea Hotel, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western is ideally located in the center of South Shields. Come and experience our hotel near the major tourist attractions. Best price guaranteed and exclusive deals.

Located at the mouth of the Tyne in South Shields, The Sea Hotel, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western is ideally placed for taking trips to Sunderland and Newcastle. we're within easy reach of the A1 and A19. Above all, we're proud of our personality. . . and make every effort to make every stay superb. The friendly service, comfortable interiors and modern facilities certainly help us! For the business traveler, our meeting rooms are a must, while a secure car park means you can enjoy peace of mind in more ways than one. While you’re here we recommend a stroll along the beautiful coast, though Beamish Open Air Museum, Durham Cathedral, Hadrian's Wall and the Angel of the North are well worth a look-see too! Enjoy your stay.

"I do like to be beside the seaside"

5

User
11/03/2019

Good service even though the hotel was being refurbished/ Comfortable room and excellent dining. Staff were efficient and polite and a good sense of humour considering what they had to put up with from my family

"Sunday Lunch"

5

Victoria G, South Shields, United Kingdom
10/03/2019

As usual a warm welcome greeted us from the start from Alan, June and team. The Sea Hotel, despite the new decor (which is beautiful) still has the same authenticity we expect, and that is down to the excellent food and the wonderful staff. We were seated In the The Bramhall Suite for Sunday lunch which was very light and airy with exquisite decor and all 6 of us enjoyed the 3 course option. Between us all we managed to try a number of dishes on the menu including pork, beef, salmon and chicken all served with large Yorkshire puddings, fresh vegetables, the most fluffiest mash and really deep meaty gravy. Can highly recommend the salmon Thermidor which was my choice! The desserts also went down a treat (the toffee banana and treacle tart desserts a big hit)!
We will of course return, but the take away from our first visit post refurbishment and ownership change is that the interior has changed quite a bit (and has been tastefully done), but the heart of the sea hotel remains in the wonderful staff we have come to know, Stacey still greeted us at reception, Alan and June made everyone feel welcome, Paul looked after us during lunch and Kim waved us goodbye, the new management obviously value their experience and know what the customers want - great food, great atmosphere and the same great, dedicated team for years and years to come. See you soon The Gray Family

"Sunday Lunch "

4

V5315NImichaelj, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
05/03/2019

Warm welcome and pleasant bar where you are allowed to take dogs in with yourselves, thanks to the young lady in the restaurant next door who directed us where they don't allow. Very nice beef and pork lunches were served quickly and at 9.00 good value being a good sized portion. None of the pile it on the plate style of service here. Separate veg and extra gravy and apple sauce complimented. Even our dogs got some beef scraps. Staff were very friendly absolute delight. Gm please pass on our thanks. Extra courses are offered to make it into a feast at 12 and 15 I think. Recommended.

"Looking forward to next visit"

4

User
25/02/2019

Lovely staff, very nice breakfast and the "Loca" bar was great. Other bar closed for re-fit. Hotel was half way through a re-furb and will be very nice when completed. Our room was clean and servicable but very tired so the re-furb is timely. Will be using this hotel again.

"Fregate resturant"

5

D8436HWdeniser, South Shields, United Kingdom
23/02/2019

Have been visiting for years and had no complaints and that is contnuing following refurbishment ! Food outstanding with staff efficient . polite and friendly ! Looking forward to my next visit which will be very soon !

"Oh dear.."

1

UKtravelmonkey, Essex, United Kingdom
05/02/2019

Firstly this building is ugly. No amount of refurbishment will make it look nice. It has a natural run down/closed looked about it. Not great.
The photos on Tripadvisor are in my opinion misleading.
The entrance reception area is actually quite nice at first glance. Dont be fooled.
The rest of the hotel is an absolute shambles. Old fashioned, worn carpets. Curatins that are too long and drag across the floors. Bags of dirty laundry dumped in the corridors (and not just at cleaning time).
Then the room.....my god! Old rickety brown wooden furniture. A view of a neon illuminated arcade. A bed that had sen better days and was so small for 2 people. A trouser press..? Yes a trouser press....in 2019 - That didn't even work?
The bathroom was dirty and old and the shower had as much power as a fart in a wetsuit.
TV had 4 channels to choose from but BBC 1 and BBC 2 you couldn't actually watch as the signal was so bad.
The kettle had left over water in it and the pack of custard creams did little to win me over.
The hotel should have been shut completely whilst work was undertaken or just closed completely and demolished might be a better idea.
I dont expect luxury from a Best Western hotel, but I also don't expect to feel like i've just checked into a homeless hostel.

"Best nothing "

1

PJW1980, Rayleigh, United Kingdom
03/02/2019

When I pulled up to the hotel after a long drive I was disappointed to say the least. The building is currently undergoing refurbishment which I wasn't informed of at the time of booking, but looked more like it needed demolishing and rebuilding. It's seafront, behind all the gaudy amusement arcades with lights that flash all night. The car park is free which is the only plus. After parking and trying to find the entrance I did at one point actually think it was a deserted building! Entrance is round the front of the property so this is not good for elderly or anybody with walking difficulties. There is also no lift. Reception is the only part of the hotel that is ready for guests. Can't tell if it's newly refurbished or just not as old as the rest of the hotel which is circa 1980. Quick check in nothing special then to the room. Hideous brown furnishings with a net curtain and an old tatty wardrobe that could hide the entrance to narnia for all I knew. Clean bathroom but tired decor and weak shower. Bed was horrendous and squeaky. Piles of dirty laundry in corridors. Breakfast served in seperate building which was a good thing but microwaved scrambled eggs are not my thing. If you went for the “continental” option there was yoghurt and cereal no bread or pastries. Would rather sleep on a park bench than stay here again best western shame on you. This hotel should have been closed whilst building works were carried out!

"What a disaster"

1

Diane P, Sunderland
13/01/2019

My family and I have been going to the sea hotel for a lot of years for Sunday lunch and various other events and have always found it one of the best for meals.Yesterday we offered to take my heavily pregnant daughter and her husband for Sunday lunch.I booked a table about five o clock last night for lunch today.TWho ever it was who answered the phone took my booking for four people for 2o clock for today (no mention of closure).When today came we arranged to meet in car park at 2.My heavily pregnant daughter and husband travelled from Newcastle and my husband and I from Sunderland.My daughter arrived first and rang to inform us that the hotel was closed.I reassured her that it couldn't be closed as someone had taken our booking.I rang to be told that the hotel was closed and we had been booked in for a meal but at a restaurant in Stanley.I couldn't believe that we had wasted our time travelling there and were absolutely starving due to the ignorance of somebody on the switch board.Very disappointing Sea hotel.and I will be thinking twice before booking again.Please don't spoil a good Sunday dinner.

"Not bad for the price "

4

User
01/01/2019

When we booked, we knew the hotel was currently being refurbished and that the rooms were due to be refurbished very shortly but that's from local knowledge and not info from the hotel. I expected the rooms to be dated. The family room (double and single bed) was quite large. The double bed was comfy but the single was not. The heating was on but the heavy curtains covered the radiators so most of the heat goes out the window. It wasn't too cold though. The bedding was covered in the cleaner's hairs which was pretty disgusting. The bathroom is very dated and the bath stained but was clean and the shower worked fine.
The location of the hotel is brilliant.
No real problems and we enjoyed our stay.

"Ummmmmmm"

2

Spiderboy99, Bicester, United Kingdom
30/12/2018

I should have read all the reviews before booking this hotel. As a Best Western rewards customer i expect to be looked after when visiting a Best Western establishment. Well was i wrong, this is probably why i have gone from gold membership downwards it is because the standards are dropping and i stay less and less at Best Western hotels. I thought i had booked to stay in a twin room at this hotel, however i was placed in what they call the annexe, a what looks like a converted shed next to a club. Very noisy until late and very noisy first thing when the club staff arrive to clean and sort out the cellar. The room we were allocated was not the cleanest, the beige carpet was very grubby, fixtures and fittings were dusty. The bed mattress was past it's sell by date. The only redeeming feature of this hotel was the staff, but after saying that, when i spoke to the receptionist to complain about the room i was advised the manager was on day off and there was nothing she could do with regards to compensating me. The area around the shed oh sorry annexe is not the cleanest as there are dog ends from the customers of the club who stand smoking in the hotel car park area and through their dog ends on to the floor, plus the noise they make talking can be heard in the rooms as there is no sound proofing anywhere. The walls between rooms are so thin you can hear everything and i mean everything. So all in all i would avoid the annexe area like the plague

"Stayed one night for business"

4

600HD, Barnsley, United Kingdom
19/12/2018

A very friendly and homely hotel. Good food and very reasonably priced accommodation. There was some work being carried out but that is to be expected in the winter months and this didn't cause an issue.Situated on the seafront and near to the town centre.

"cold and damp"

1

User
19/12/2018

I attended for a one night stay with my partner last weekend. The room had no heating, no hot water and damp patches on the walls. The hotel was undergoing renovations to the exterior but we had not been informed. We were transferred to another room but this room was not a lot warmer. The breakfast was not worth what we got and had to request extra. Overall a very cold and disappointing stay

"Helpful and friendly stacc"

3

visitingfromspain, Fuente Alamo, Spain
18/12/2018

Stayed three. Ights.. first night was terrible..windows sealed shut and the noise from the room next to us kept us awake all night. When we complained, the staff could not have been. Ore helpful.. they gave us nakther roon and made sure we were happy with it. All staff were very friendly and very helpful, always smiling and courteous. The remaining two nights were very comfortable.. we were not charged extra for the upgrade room.

"Great food"

5

OpenOfficeSystems, North Yorkshire
07/11/2018

We visited for a function where they catered for about 100 of us. The menu was quite diverse (at least 5 options for each of the 3 courses) and the food came in a timely manner. All well cooked and piping hot. A big thankyou to all the staff involved.

"Excellent value stay"

4

istanbul187067, Doncaster, United Kingdom
04/11/2018

I stayed for 2 nights on my Coastal Path Walk. The welcome was great and the staff were ,without exception, friendly and helpful. A credit to manager Alan Watson. The room was lovely and warm , everything in the room and en suite was fine and all w as clean and modern. Dinner was reasonably priced and well presented. Breakfast was cooked to order and was very good. The only thing I would have liked was more fresh fruit. Finally the price of 57 pounds a night was the best value for money on my 5 day trip.

"eatery"

5

User
03/11/2018

Resturant .My friends and i were at a Ladies night. and even tho the hotel is being renovated
we were given a lovely..banquét which i give both the staff and the managment a hearty thankyou. It was lovely. Well done

"Surprisingly good"

4

Evelyn485, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
29/10/2018

Booked at short notice and didn't have high expectations especially when we arrived and found the hotel covered in scaffolding. However when we opened the door and stepped inside it was warm and welcoming. Our room was a decent size with a very nice bathroom and a view of the promenade and amusement arcade which was a wee bit noisy at night. Breakfast served in the dining room was a self service continental which wasn't very exciting but the hot breakfast cooked to order was good quality and tasty. Overall a good stay

"Change of owner"

4

User
28/10/2018

Stayed one night. Staff are very friendly and helpful but hotel is undergoing renovations although we did not experience any issues. We had a good size room with sea (and amusement arcade!) view? Comfortable bed, decent shower but general modernisation needed. We enjoyed the breakfast which was help yourself cereal, fruit etc and waitress service cooked items . check in/ check out was efficiently handled and the Location is good for the park and sea front. When we visited there was plenty of space in the car park. We would happily return once the new owners have completed the renovation work.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to review. It is good to read from a customers point of view that the refurbishment work did not effect your stay. Look forward to your next visit and review on the new facilities and refurbishment. Regards Alan

"Accommodation"

2

Leemar56, Wakefield, United Kingdom
15/10/2018

Negatives
I have stayed at this hotel for quite a number of years for work. And have always been satisfied. Unfortunately not this time. My stay was over 7 nights. First 5 were on the second floor and right at the back of the hotel. Fine by me as I'm a light sleeper. The room however was not as I expected. It looked very tired and needed updating. The very small television is on the dresser very difficult to watch whilst sitting on the bed as it is too low. On closer inspection you could see dust everywhere a good layer too as if it hadn't been cleaned in a while. Dust on the dressing table, bedside units, bulb in the light shade, even the kettle and mugs had a layer of dust. The bathroom shelves were dirty as was the mirror. I complained to the receptionist and asked to have my room cleaned properly whilst I went out for a walk. The receptionist apologised and said it would get done. When I returned the room had been cleaned though not to a very good standard. The bed was most uncomfortable and lumpy. The pillows flat and hard.
The second week I stayed for 2 nights and was on the first floor. Having complained the previous week you would have thought they would have made sure my room was clean....not the case. My room was again dusty and dirty. Hair in the sink, long hair strands on the chairs. Dust everywhere. Looked liked someone had wiped their nose on the curtains too. I complained about the room again and mentioned that the cleaner needed to be monitored as she was not doing the job she was paid to do!!
Positives
The main reception and restaurant staff are very friendly and accommodating. The food in the restaurant is of a very high standard and would definitely recommend eating there.
The hotel is handy for the beach and very close to the town centre.
I believe that the hotel has been taken over by a new company and that they are at the moment in the process of updating it. So on this note I look forward to seeing the end result.
Hopefully completed by the time I next visit the north east. Otherwise I will be looking for somewhere else to stay.

"In the middle of refurbishment"

3

User
15/10/2018

Location would suit a young family on Holiday, opposite the seaside entertainments of South Shields.The hotel itself is a little tired at the moment but undergoing refurbishment and should be a much nicer place to stay at the end of the work.Staff were helpful and quickly sorted any problems.Good value.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review the hotel. The hotels location has received lots of positive reviews over the years, I agree a young family on holiday would find the hotel to be a good location, but we also receive similar comments from customers of all ages. The refurbishment will provide a great uplift to the hotels appearance and facilities. Regards Alan

"Ticks all the Boxes "

5

Adrian B, Northampton,England
12/10/2018

So what makes a good hotel ? Location? Cleanliness ? Friendly reception ? Bedroom and bathroom with all amenities ? Good food ? Good service ? Good bar prices ?
So....The Sea Hotel ticks all the boxes and makes it excellent value for money and a great place to stay in the areas.

"2night visit"

4

Carol H, Kelso, United Kingdom
12/10/2018

This hotel would have had another star if it hadn't been for a lot of work going on but the noise was only through the day ,and also they couldn't find our booking at first.the facilities were good and staff excellent and very friendly,breakfast very good and we had a bar meal which also was good and tasty. No lift so if your not mobile book first floor.

"Ruby Wedding - Another Amazing Visit!"

5

Victoria G, South Shields, United Kingdom
07/10/2018

Another wonderful celebration at the Sea Hotel, as usual the staff were fantastic, and so helpful, nothing was too much trouble. We booked the table with June the manager, who gave us a beautiful table on the extension and decorated it. From our friendly greeting by Jackie on reception, who helped me when I knocked over our cake, to Mark in the bar who served many drinks for us throughout the day. The food was superb, the chicken in Stilton with bacon was one of nicest meals I've ever had - my compliments to the chef! There were 10 of us and everyone commented that the food was delicious! Thank you to our servers Nikita and Paul, Paul also kindly took a family photo of us all, nothing was too much trouble. The prices were reasonable and we left feeling very full and very happy with our visit. Another fantastic family occasion celebrated in our favourite South Shields Hotel, simply can't be beaten for food or for the attentiveness and friendliness of the wonderful staff. Can't wait to see you again for our next party! The Gray Family.

"stayed for 3 days for a wedding"

4

lewi6, Swansea County, United Kingdom
03/10/2018

fantastic weekend the catering for the wedding was 1st class thanks all the staff a special thank to the cleaner who cleaned the room it was top class nice clean towels every day breakfast nice full english nice and hot

"Value for Money"

3

Andrew H, Manchester UK
27/09/2018

Stayed Saturday night and pre booked via the central BW phone number to get a rate of £65 per room including breakfast - value for money! Service was very nice and friendly and as others have put the hotel is showing its age in places but isn't that bad. Be mindful that there are functions on late in the evening but the music was turned down around the 11pm mark. Breakfast was usual fayre with a choice of cereals, fruits, yoghurts etc. then different fried options including 'full English'.
Nice staff, clean rooms, nice substantial breakfast and most certainly value for money.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for your review, its always good to read that we have provided value for money. Pleased to let you know that work has started on the refurbishment of the hotel with a new look and new facilities.

"Poor quality"

1

FussyFlossy1, South Shields, United Kingdom
16/09/2018

We booked a table in the restaurant as a Saturday night treat and were very disappointed. The fact there were so few diners should have had the alarm bells ringing. The service was unfriendly and the food well below par. There was nothing about the experience that I would recommend or want to repeat.

"short break"

3

georgy64, cheshire
16/09/2018

Having stayed at quite a few Best Western Hotels this one is probably not up to standard, the rooms are small and dated ,there is no lift so dragging your bags up 3 flights of stairs is not very pleasant, I must say the food was better than most Best Westerns, all in all not the best you can get for your money

"Good Food and Reasonably Priced."

4

NorthExplorers, Sedgefield, United Kingdom
07/09/2018

Visited recently as my wife was stopping here on business.
Had evening meal which was very nice and excellent value for money.
Extensive menu which has plenty of assorted options.
Tasty food, good value served by a pleasant member of staff.
Can't really fault it.
Would certainly recommend if your in the area.

"Boiling Hot"

3

SillyFizzy, London, United Kingdom
05/09/2018

Check-In was a bit lack of friendliness. Receptionist was absolutely not enthusiastic. She asked me to fill in the form and immediately asked me for the payment. After paying for the bill she gave me directions to my room but did not explain anything else at all such as breakfast, WiFi, booking dinner, etc.
Upon entering the room, it was just boiling hot which was not expected. I stayed two nights and both nights the room was boiling hot although the 2 small windows were open the whole time and I made sure the radiator was not on.
First night it was also full of smell of fried food, assuming coming from the kitchen downstairs.
Breakfast was much nicer than I had expected (have had TOO MANY bad experiences in Best Western hotels!) and the breakfast service was good. I noticed that one of the customers seemed to be a bit awkward for no reason but Nikita remained polite.
No lift at the hotel and poor design regarding walkway/stairs/ramps between the car park and the hotel. Someone at the hotel actually did offer to help me and did help carry my suitcase upstairs. Unlike other Best Western branches.
As I have had so many bad experience staying at Best Western hotels, I had expected the same poor service but this hotel is actually OK.

"Nice hotel, needs a revamp"

3

User
04/09/2018

Great restaurant, very clean hotel and nice staff. The rooms are very dated and need an overhaul but other than that it's ok. When my TV wasn't working the manager fixed it within about 5 mins, very good service.

"Helpful staff - great breakfast"

4

Anthony T, Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom
02/09/2018

My wife and I had just one night at this hotel. The room allocated to us had a lovely sea view but, unfortunately, also looked out on a noisy Amusement Park. As we both have hearing issues and cant cope with loud noise, we asked if we could be re-located in a quieter part of the hotel. Our request was promptly granted and we enjoyed a peaceful and comfortable stay.

"Lovely food "

4

User
30/08/2018

Even though the restaurant is dated this isn't a problem as the food is always nice. Staff are very friendly and the pricing is good. Nothing is ever a bother for the staff even when they are busy they are a credit to the hotel

"Dinner in Restaurant"

4

Lesley N, South Shields, United Kingdom
27/08/2018

Visited last night for dinner. Good choice of menu with a 2 or 3 course special menu as well. Good value for money. Friendly waitresses. Not too busy so as 2 couples were able to have a good conversation without it being too noisy. Have also had lunch here and have found food of a good standard.

"Give it a little more credit. Nowhere near as bad a reviews say on here!"

4

KLee-B1985, Manchester, United Kingdom
20/08/2018

Please take your time to read my honest review as I've just returned from what was a 4 night stay but enjoyed ourselves that much I booked an extra night and is a true example of how looks can be decieving. Please read on.
I have to admit i was apprehensive about coming with the kids as i remember it to be more dated and not the best of showers and it's got a few bad reviews recently. I chose to come back here due to location to the amusements and beach for the kids so lowered my expectations on the accommodation side( I'm disappointed in myself for this as I needn't have worried)
Its Been a few years since I've stayed here choosing to stay at a hotel closer to my dads house as their rooms have been refurbished to modern standard and has an excellent shower.
However let it be a lesson learned that you take the good with the bad and appearences can be decieving as ive just found out the other hotel got a food hygiene rating of 1 a few wks ago! So it may all look modern and cosy and fancy but it certainly isn't clean.... taking us Back to the Sea Hotel.....
On arrival Me, my 2 kids (7,12) & my little French Bulldog (yes this is a dog friendly hotel) were greeted and given the key card to room 206 on the 2nd floor. Please note there are no lifts so if travelling with babies or mobility impaired book with plenty of notice and request a ground floor in the annex also if you can manage the stairs but not your luggage then the staff are helpful and it says in their book just ask and they will help
Up we went to the 2nd floor this being a Brucy bonus to tiring the kids and dog out as they charged upstairs and for me burning a few extra calories.
We entered the room and It was not as dated as I remembered and certainly didn't mirror what id read in the reviews. Our room was huge considering it was a double with a small roll out bed for my little boy. We had 2 big windows over looking the beach and swimming pool. We got to watch the ferry go out every evenig and back in the morning and to my delight on Saturday night we got to see a cruise ship depart right past our window. There's an electric fan in the wardrobe and I opened the windows fully and got plenty of breeze coming in. Our TV worked perfectly. Our tea and coffee stations replenished daily with tea coffee hot chocolate and muffins and onto my biggest worry ... the bathroom....a brilliant size, blue tiled floor which wasn't too bad ideal to keep the dog cool. Yes the bath needs replacing but I believe it is on the cards to be modernised anyway. The baths quite long so good if your tall, kids had some great bubble baths and I knew what I was expecting with the shower so sucked it up and had a bath then rinsed off with a cold shower (which is the reason I scored a 4 and not a 5. The baths boiling it's just the showers. So if your a bath lover you'll be happy it's just the showers and you make do with it because the pros defiantly outweigh the cons at this hotel.
Our house keeper Yolonda was a perfectionist! Worked her socks off to a high standard. Vaccumed our room daily (even when i asked for the hoover as kids got crumbs on the clean floor she wouldn't hear of it she came in and did it) Clean towels everyday and making sure we were all ok and happy. Beds changed every other day. These ladies deserve credit for the jobs they do as they put so much effort into making the rooms comfortable and spotless for us.
The food was better than outside I was so suprised at this and deffo
reccomend getting a meal and eating at Surfers bar a comfortable cosy lounge bar area with sky tv and where all the guests socialise of an evening. The girls on the bar here are lovely, so friendly and give a great level of customer service (with a smile too) 1 even going that extra mile on my 1st night as I'd forgot to bring my book and wanted to read once I got into bed but after a long day didn't want to drive to Asda to buy one so she went in search and came back with a magazine for me which was perfect for me to relax with on my 1st night.
The food prices are average and the bar prices are fantastic.
I didn't sample the breakfast this time round as we were room only and would have been quite expensive to eat there for the 3 of us for 6 mornings however on walking through to the car park the food smelt lovely.
Location is a huge selling point for this hotel. Right by haven point beach, next to haven point swimming pool with slides. Facing the marine park with a little kids steam train, a lake with pedaloes to hire and park and then there's ocean beach pleasure park facing too. Walked into the centre a few time and got some great restaurants. Star of India had a great curry in there and Bella Italia was delicious.
We were also just a half hour drive from Diggerland and Beamish fab days out
This hotel is certainly not the pits as previous reviews had you led to believe and it's also not 5 star. It was comfortable friendly hotel I wouldn't say it's as old fashioned as the other seafront hotel a little further down which ppl rave about. Id say this is more of a classic design
I will certainly be back. I will go as far to say that you don't even get what you pay for because I found I had a fantastic rate. Some hotels put a supplement on for a sea view this hotel doesn't and for what I paid the view and the service then I got a bargain! Please note I am the fussiest person when travelling and I like my 4-5* hotels. This is a 3* and I loved it! When you get the staff correct which they have bar a couple of new young girls who I think are new and just need training in basic customer service such as if sat at front desk you acknowledge each and every person With a hello and a smile then your onto a winner and I honestly believe they've got it right here from the long serving girls on the front desk to the perfect house keeping and the fab 3 girls on the Surfers bar. Over look the decor if it's not your thing because as I said at the start the place I used to stay may have looked nice but dont get service or cleanliness like you do here and I know which is more important to me.

"Grubby in more ways than one.."

1

SBYORKIE, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
15/08/2018

Grubby and rather smelly. Very much in need of care and attention and investment. Right by the seaside fun which certainly put me off. Was served a meal by the most impolite and miserable dark haired teenager I have ever met.

"Revisit home town"

2

Ron B, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
11/08/2018

It's been nineteen years since I stayed here,sadly nothing has changed much. Well maintained but showing its age. Staff courteous and pleasant, breakfast at ten pound extra on the bill not good value for money, full english just not inviting and pretty tasteless. Still room at £60ish pounds a night, guess you gets what you pay for. Would I go back, probably not, there are better looking b & b's in the town.

"No frills whatsoever"

2

Roychubbybrown, Timbuktu, Mali
07/08/2018

I stayed here for 5 nights on a business trip and the room was substandard. The following is a list of problems in room 214:
TV does not have any bbc channels and the signal is constantly lost making watching it virtually impossible,the bed does not have fitted sheets so you end up sleeping on the dirty mattress protector, the wardrobe door is broken - it can only be opened by bending down to open the left hand door as the catch at the top has came off, the toilet seat is not fitted correctly so you end up sitting directly on the toilet bowl, the bath tap was leaking for the entire duration of my visit. I reported it on the first day but it was still left unfixed 5 days later when I left. As for the other problems, I didn't bother reporting them because if they couldn't be bothered to fix the tap then what was the point? Other than that, the place was clean, staff friendly and the restaurant was excellent. Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend this hotel due to the poor customer service and multiple problems with the room.

"holiday"

5

Harry C, Bideford, United Kingdom
06/08/2018

nice hotel right on the sea front 5 min from the town 20 min drive to Newcastle and the metro center lot of shops 20 min drive to Sunderland lot of shops nice little town Seaburn on the way with a lot more to see

"Great Location, food and staff."

4

nicola r, Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom
26/07/2018

We stayed at the Sea Hotel on Saturday 21st July.
Upon arrival we was quickly check in and direct to our room. The room was of a good size with a double aspect windows. Although the room was clean, it was very dated. We had trouble sleeping at night due to the heat and not been able to keep the windows open due the early call of the gulls (this is not the hotels fault, price you pay for a good sea location) Aircon wouldn't go a miss.
The breakfast was outstanding with a great selection and attentive staff.
I would like it to a friendly B&B style accommodation.
When in South Shields again, we will be staying here again.

"Average"

3

User
17/07/2018

It is no doubt the hotel needs renovated. The rooms also need aircon, we stayed during the heatwave and I could sleep because no air was getting in the windows and the small fan provided was doing nothing. There was also a yellow stain on our bed sheet so we chose to sleep on top of the duvet. The staff were friendly and it was a great location. You get what you pay for basically...

"A Very Comfortable Stay"

4

bjchampness, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
13/07/2018

We booked the invalid accommodation. This probed to be very comfortable and very accessible for an electric powered mobility scooter. The only problem appeared to be our inability to keep water from the invalid shower from flooding the toilet floor. However the the room maid was not unhappy about the situation and the sweet was well maintained throughout our stay

"Great view"

5

User
11/07/2018

Great view, nice staff and welcoming. The hotel had a genuine atmosphere and environment which the staff contributed to. Great food and breakfast in the restaurant. I like the long opening hours both in the morning and in the evening. We could even have dinner when arriving at 11 PM.

"I would not recommend this hotel to anyone."

2

Powder1000, Sevenoaks District, United Kingdom
10/07/2018

I do not really understand how they managed to get such a high rating. The room we were given was nasty. I have listed a quick run down of our experience at this hotel
Huge bags lying strewn on the stairs
Peeling paint everywhere
Dirty windows
Dirty curtains
Huge water stains on the roof
Marks all over the Furniture
No lift
Terrible WiFi
Bad TV Signal with a scrolling screen
Noisy Area
Very hot no air conditioning
Bathroom was filthy.
Cobwebs on the windows
A old trolley left outside our door for the 2 nights stay
Pro/s
Large room
Friendly staff
Good Location
I am sorry I but I would not recommend this hotel to anyone.

"Good value but needs makeover!"

3

User
19/06/2018

Good breakfast, friendly staff. Very shabby & awful decor - brown being the predominant colour - Reception area very depressing. Room clean where it needed to be (bathroom) but very dusty & needed a thorough going over. This used to be "the" hotel to stay in but has sadly seen better days - however, for £60 inc breakfast it is good value.

"Could do with modernising "

3

Sandra H, Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom
06/06/2018

Stayed for a friends wedding in room 116, it was very warm so had to open windows and found it very noisy overnight with traffic and people outside. Can't fault the staff very friendly and accommodating also breakfasts freshly cooked to order which were perfect. I would stay again but maybe ask for a quieter room.

"Friendly staff and good breakfast"

3

kelvingunn, Leicester, United Kingdom
27/05/2018

We had booked this hotel during the visit for a friends wedding, though the staff were friendly and the breakfast was good the hotel is dated and smelt old and dated.
The room was tidy but wall paper, carpet and bedding didn't match and looked like it had been thrown together to make a equipped room with the bathroom looking tidy until you use the shower and see the scum not washed off the tiles.
This hotel is facing the fair ground and beach which would be great for the kids it's just a shame it smells so old.

"Restaurant was well presented."

5

rayebee, Honiton Devon
17/05/2018

This is the second time we have had lunch in the hotel. My wife and I had potato skins as starters, they were more like potato peelings than skins.The service was good, but it would be nice to see the lady waitress enjoying her job, she would be more suitable to a funeral parlour than a restaurant.The rest of the food was very good.We will be coming back hope we can put a smile on the waitress face.

"50th Birthday Bash"

4

IanMK, Newcastle, England
15/05/2018

I hadn't been to South Shields for quite some time but I was attending a 50th birthday party and had no intention of driving home on the same night.
I arrived bang on 13.45 and was able to check in immediately. Few minutes later I dropped my bags off and was off outside for a stroll.
I had a room overlooking Bents Park, not as good as a sea view but a pleasant view regardless.
I didn't dine in the hotel as there was catering at the 50th bash. I did however, have breakfast on Sunday morning and it was no better, no worse than the usual hotel English breakfast. The young waitress was very pleasant and polite.

"Sunday lunch"

4

User
13/05/2018

Lovely Sunday lunch,decent price for 3 courses and plenty of meat,Yorkshire puddings in particular were excellent!also got fair amount of choices instead of usual 2 or 3 meats, for eg salmon which also was exceptional-compliments to the chef!
Staff were attentive and friendly too.

"average hotel"

3

obejean2010, Malton, United Kingdom
13/05/2018

stayed here in the annex at back of car park room was clean, most concerning is that the annex is left open 24/7 so any body can walk in off the street. so security isnt a priority in this place. all in all its very rundown. ok for one night but wouldnt recomend longer.

"Excellent location for the fair and beach"

4

LAUREN B, KINGSTON UPON HULL, YORKSHIRE
12/05/2018

Opposite a park and fair. Our rooms were clean and the staff were efficient and friendly. Bob the night porter was very helpful. The lodge was ideal for disabled guests. The food was good for the price.

"Wonderful Hotel"

5

MarkMyWords8, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
07/05/2018

We stopped here with friends for our last game of season watching the Wolves.
A lovely hotel to say the least, from the helpful staff to the smashing comfortable rooms. Bang for buck and absolute treat and we will definitely be returning.

"Do not stay!!"

1

sarahmc247, South Shields, United Kingdom
03/05/2018

Do not stay here!
Cleaning standards are appalling throught out the hotel and room. We werent even put in the hotel but an annexe.
The card to the room wouldn't work so had to ask receptiin to help get in room. As soon as the door opened you were hit with the smell of urine. The telly on the wall crackled and lost signal. The room was dark, dull and dirty. The flower pot outside the annexe door full of cigarettes really didnt help.
My partner refused to stay and it ruined the night for us.
We complained and after waiting for the manager to return to the hotel we were offered a room with single beds or a refund. REFUND PLEASE.
Please save yourself the hassle and book somewhere else.

"couple of days away"

3

keithnles, Wigan, United Kingdom
20/04/2018

stayed at the sea Hotel for 2 midweek days.
Good points
Staff , breakfast and location ( right by the seafront so pleanty of scope for evening walks )
Bad points
One of the worse showers i have ever used , room was clean but the outside of the windows were filthy which ruined the view )

"Family anniversary celebration "

4

Neesie50, Oxford, United Kingdom
10/04/2018

Parents in law celebrated there Diamond Wedding at hotel & all family stayed for weekend. Booked direct through hotel, great price.
We had selection of rooms, from rooms in annex to a room with sleigh bed for my in laws. Rooms all very clean, but could do with a bit of an upgrade, it was a freezing & windy weekend & the windows were very draughty, some rooms were particularly cold.
Staff were wonderful throughout stay & top notch breakfast for the price. Room for party unfortunately very cold all evening & disco provided disappointing, saying that we had lovely time.
Car park was very icy & my 80 year old Mam had a nasty fall down steps into annex. Informed staff who were helpful but said they weren't allowed to put salt down!!!!
Compliments to all staff during weekend, always friendly & helpful. The problem with the car park in bad weather needs to be addressed, it was lethal !

"Wedding"

5

Laura P, North East England, United Kingdom
04/04/2018

Attended a wedding here in the summer. This is a lovely venue, the staff are very friendly and the food is delicious. There is plenty of seating and floor space for dancing. We stayed overnight, the rooms are clean and spacious. The breakfast in the morning was lovely and filling.

"Mr and Mrs McClean Wedding Weekend"

5

User
03/04/2018

Stayed here as part of a wedding party of 40+ who had travelled from all over the UK
Room was excellent
Food was tremendous
Staff were happy and friendly
I was Best man and found Alan and June so facilitating Excellent wedding reception food was served with a smile and courses were swift and food was gorgegeous
If considering having wedding here you wouldn't be making a bad choice
Fair across the road to keep young kids amused too
I'm glad Heidi and William chose this venue and booked me in to stay

"A good nights sleep"

4

Philip S, London, United Kingdom
25/03/2018

Stayed for two nights and I had the best nights sleep in a hotel for some time. I accept it was out of season but I enjoyed a restful break. The hotel was very clean and I enjoyed the early cold breakfast.

"Lov"

5

janstevens12018, Harlow, United Kingdom
14/03/2018

Lovely 3 night stay, the staff could not do enough for us, very warm and friendly nothing seemed too much trouble. Food excellent from breakfast to evening meal. Would deffinately book there again, my mum thoroughly enjoyed it thank you

"mothersday lunch"

2

glynis o, South Shields, United Kingdom
12/03/2018

Have visited the Sea Hotel for many years but seriously disappointed with lunch yesterday for Mothers day.Firstly 33% price hike for half the usual choice of the normal Sunday menu (struggled to find a starter or a desert .Put in the Schooner room which is like being in a school cafe,no flowers on table to create a nice ambience for the day ,tables as basic as could be .Food ok but big lumps of square turnip (asked if could have it mashed but told no thats how they were servng it ) 40 minutes in between main and desert - asked 3 times when deserts would be coming .All in all think will be giving it a wide berth £135 for lunch and at best was just ok .Poor and slow service from a hotel that has always been one of my favourites !

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Really sorry to read that you had not enjoyed Mothering Sunday lunch, I hope you will accept my apologies for any disappointment you feel we have caused. We received very positive customer comments on the day along with reviews of 5 stars on other social media sites.
We plan Mothering Sunday knowing that there will be high demand and a customer expectation of something a little different to the every week Sunday lunch. We introduced some more expensive popular dishes from the restaurant menu along with some new dishes to offer something different from the traditional Sunday lunch we serve each week; I think it is unfair and misleading to write we simply put our prices up, when the content of the menu was different.
The Mothering Sunday menu was priced at £19.95 for adults £9.95 for children or we offered a separate simple children's menu at £4.95 with all prices including 20% VAT. The menu has been available for customers to view or takeaway in brochure and online for a number of weeks, giving customers time to ensure it met their requirements for content, choice and budget.
When planning the day we concentrated larger tables together in the Schooner Suite on a one sitting basis. Larger groups tend to take a little longer both for service and to allow more time to chat. We set the room with large tables, covered in white linen cloths and linen napkins along with white chair covers as we would for a wedding or anniversary event, I am sorry that you were unhappy with this style, likening it to a school café.
On the day we find that many bunches of flowers and gifts are brought in by customers for the Mothers, however I will review ideas and costs for centre displays for tables for future events and survey customer response to any increase this would make to pricing.
Thank you again for taking the time to pass on your feedback.

"Valentine escape"

3

sinbad592016, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
16/02/2018

This hotel is like having two hotels. Downstairs, is warm, and cosy, and snug. Up stairs is like stepping back in time. Our room was not cleaned properly, so we contacted the reception, and we were changed very quickly. So, to the review, as mentioned, downstairs, the hotel was very clean, warm and the staff make you feel at home, very friendly, very helpful. The breakfast was very tasty, and well worth it, the meals were great value, and delicious. Bar prices were very reasonable, limited selection, but the cosy atmosphere made it feel like home. Full marks so far.
Upstairs was a different matter, the rooms were not awful, but were in need of some TLC. If it wasn't for the flat screen TV, I would swear I stepped back to the seventies. The wardrobe, and desk were like something from Antique Roadshow. This is the only minus for this hotel, it would be a great hotel, but for the room furniture, and a freshen up.
To sum up, good hotel, great staff, good food and drinks, shame about the room furniture.

"Very dated"

3

rokardphu, Huddersfield
11/02/2018

I stayed here as near to my work commitments and by the sea.
It's very dated and really does need updating and I think it would be outstanding if it was brought up to date.
Rooms are comfortable and very clean. Bed was also comfy.
Bathrooms were tired and in the 2 rooms I stayed in over 2 weeks both had issues with the shower and the speed of water coming out.
I didn't eat in the hotel but drinks were cheap.
Free parking and short walk into town for alternatives to food.
It's very handy for the sea front

"Very friendly"

4

rafftigg, Denmead, United Kingdom
11/02/2018

We enjoyed our stay here. The room was very comfortable and the breakfast adequate. The employees were very helpful and the location is excellent between the sea and the park. They have a good restaurant and bar on the premises.

"Excellent stay"

5

boultons9, sheffield yorks
10/02/2018

We had a great two night stay here the restraurant food was good quality and good value for money we had a beautiful rump steak cooked perfectly three courses for 17.99. The breakfast was very good indeed with so much choice from full breakfast to fruits and yogurts ete. The Staff are fantastic so helpful and very pleasant in deed this Hotel is quite a find opposite the sea able to walk on the sea front highly reccomend this Hotel we shall return again.

"Just the one night but a great stay"

4

Steve L, Manchester, United Kingdom
03/02/2018

The hotel is located in the middle of the area, so you are close to everything around. We only stopped one night but managed to have an evening meal and breakfast the following day which were spot on. The menu was varied, everything presented well and changing to mash potato on my meal didn't cause any problem. The staff are all friendly and good at their jobs, helping us out, chatting and generally making us feel very welcome. The room was well presented and had all the tea and coffee making facilities, even biscuits, nice touches that just made our night. Wouldn't hesitate going back again, its a nice little hotel, in the right place and with good staff looking after you.

"Nice management !"

3

SamyDaoud, Sheffield, United Kingdom
22/01/2018

Rooms could be a hit or miss. I've stayed there 3 or 4 times. One night it rained so hard that the ceiling was leaking water all over the carpet and I had to change room. I was pleasantly surprised that they moved me from the dated room to a totally newly and modernised bedroom. (hmmmm! why didn't they do that in the first place especially the hotel was nit too busy??!!). The staff are courteous, breakfast was nice and generally clean. most of the rooms are dated, although there were a few modernised and refurbished ones. The manager said that the honour was doing them one by one so as not to lose business. bonus point, secure car parking and a late bar (fully stocked!)

"Lovely winter break"

4

Julie_an_Steve, Wigan, United Kingdom
30/12/2017

Stayed at this hotel whilst visiting family in South Shields after Christmas and got a very good deal directly on Best Western website much cheaper than the hotel listed price and also other booking sites, although had to pre-pay to get this price.
Large double room with sea view, very warm and comfortable bed. Bathroom could do with an upgrade as it was dated and the shower over bath was very difficult to control temperature. however the bathroom could do wit has being upgraded.
Excellent service in the restaurant for breakfast and freshly cooked, well presented food with a good selection of options.
Perfect location for the beach, park and town centre, plus plenty of restaurant bars within 5 mins walk.
Private car park at rear.
Overall a very enjoyable stay and excellent value for money.

"Could not fault the food"

5

jmcc105, Gateshead, England, United Kingdom
22/12/2017

Went for Sunday dinner a few weeks back with family and it could not be faulted. We were seated in the restaurant which was bright and clean. The food was excellent and the price was very reasonable. We will be returning!

"christmas sing along"

5

Jenny C, Sunderland, United Kingdom
20/12/2017

we went for Christmas lunch and sing along it was fantastic we took 24 people and could not have wished for a better time all the staff were perfect very friendly the could not of been more helpful food was the best plenty of everything we will book again as all of our party had the best time

"2nd visit to this hotel"

4

JamesLondonLondon, London
12/12/2017

I stopped here a couple of years ago and was on business in the area so decided to book this hotel again as it is conveniently located, has plenty of parking and was good value last time.
I was given a room in the annex which is over the far side of the car park. The room was very cosy with a huge bathroom (designed to accommodate people in wheelchairs I think). I was able to park right outside my room which was handy.
Breakfast here was great last time and it was great again. Lots of choices for hot food and continental.
A comfortable overnight stop and good value.

"Out of dated hotel in wonderful location"

3

Yvonne G, Norwich
11/12/2017

Sadly the hotel is so outdated and badly needs refurb. Paint pealing off doors, dark old wardrobes etc. no suitcase stand. Shower over bath that gives little water with ok temperature, unsafe entry to bath between sink and shower screen.
Great venue for parties. Hot function food not that nice, sandwiches ok. Breakfast service on Sunday extremely slow, we requested 3 times (not well received) Disgusting scrabbled egg with salmon, dry and very salty.
Cleaning staff very pleasant and seemed to be doing good work, other staff well mannered
First class location, someone is missing a wonderful opportunity here.

"Comfortable night"

4

Sonova, Gateshead, United Kingdom
01/12/2017

I stayed 2 nights here in the annex building in a disabled access room.
The bed was comfortable and the room was large with a big bathroom and walking in shower. Breakfast was okay, made to order although the sausages and black pudding were overcooked. I just had bacon and eggs the 2nd morning, as they had been lovely the day before.

"Sunday Lunch"

5

GEORDIEJUNE, South Shields, United Kingdom
01/12/2017

Totally recommend the Sunday Lunch . You can book for 1230 pm or 2pm sittings. Always a lovely welcome from the staff. Great choice on menu with good quality food. Roast beef is delicious with plenty fresh vegetables. Comfortable seating and spotless tables.

"Retirement Party"

5

Shieldsman76, South Shields, United Kingdom
23/11/2017

We had a fantastic evening for my wife's retirement party. The venue, first-rate service and excellent food made it a night to remember for all of our family. Big thanks to Alan and the whole team at the Sea Hotel who made the night so special.

"Perfect winter seaside break"

5

Richard W, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
20/11/2017

We had a 2 night stay with our cocker spaniel Bertie, comfy clean and lovely warm room, Very friendly staff and of course Bertie loved his breakfast sausage.
Right on the seafront so perfect location, we will be back :)

"2 night stay.."

5

Lee B, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
19/11/2017

We stayed for 2 nights visiting family. We had a fantastic deal booked direct on the internet. £125 for 2 nights with breakfst. We ahd a family room for just myself and my wife. The building is quite old but really quite nice inside. No lift if thats a concern but the walk up and down helped with the great breakfast we had. The breakfast was absolutely fantastic.. not too much and freshly cooked.. all in all a very friendly warm clean hotel, definitely go again.

"School reunion"

5

janeinlanza, Playa Blanca, Spain
07/11/2017

Thank you to Alan and all the team for making our reunion so memorable.. You really couldn't have done anymore.
Everyone was so helpful, the food was fabulous.. And the evening went perfectly.
Looking forward to seeing you at Christmas.

"Awards ceremony "

5

SteveLorro, South Shields, United Kingdom
28/10/2017

Visited the sea hotel as part of an evening event awards ceremony.
I have to say I was quite surprised with the meal as it was delicious.
The prices of alcohol were very reasonable for a hotel. Staff very helpful and polite.

"Perfect end for coast-to-coast cycle adventure"

4

richard_murrell6, Derby, United Kingdom
26/10/2017

Comfortable room, good service, friendly and helpful staff. Although we had to cycle up from Sunderland it was a great stay after our 135 miles cycle from Whitehaven. A great base and final destination for 5 middle-aged men from Derby.

"DO NOT STAY HERE."

1

Nick_7312, Nottingham, United Kingdom
24/10/2017

The showers don't work!! They dribble out. Unacceptable! All Rooms face a main road as its situated on a corner plot. My room smelt of cigarettes as i think someone must of been smoking out of the window That wasn't securely closed. Very dated, no lifts. so if you have luggage make sure you can carry them up how many stairs.
I paid a a good price for a what i thought was a quality establishment. With my disgust i decided not to dine at the hotel and ventured elsewhere.
just so you all know that best western is a franchise. So if you complain to customer services it actually doesn't go any further. It is down to the owner of the Hotel and in my experience has no idea of customer care. So before you book here please consider all of the above. I would advise you to stay elsewhere as I will not at any cost stay at a Best Western.

"I'll miss it when it's gone"

3

C-Wearside, Piercebridge, United Kingdom
23/10/2017

Stopped here with my young family during the summer. Had a decent night (OK value for money but certainly not a bargain), ideally located & as again in 2016 the breakfast was superb and better than any buffet ive had in a 4* hotel. Rooms are dated but its south tyneside not Las Vegas. The Bar and a lot of the public areas outdated too but in a quaint way. Ive noticed this property is for sale, it'd be a massive shame if it didn't last another 10 months so our family could make it back in 2018.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your positive comments and return visits. The hotel is a longstanding part of South Shields seafront, owned and operated by the family for over 30 years, who are now wishing to retire. The hotel has been put up for sale as a going concern with the expectation that it will continue as a hotel. On an ongoing basis the hotel continues with its maintenance, redecoration and development plans, maintaining the hotels 3 star rating along with improved scores in guest surveys. Regards Alan

"A decent hotel at a decent price"

3

User
21/10/2017

You drive up and think it looks a bit dated. Yeah, it probably is. But. It's clean and it's comfortable. It's in a great location would love to have been there earlier in the year. The staff are really friendly and helpful. The bt real fast was good. What more do you need really. If you're a light sleeper probably don't want to be at the back of the hotel with the ac units going off but didn't bother me. Bed was comfortable, the bathroom a good size. And the best recommendation I can give it right now is that I would stay there again.

"What a delight to come back to a hotel with real character"

5

513Tony, Dudley, United Kingdom
19/10/2017

I have visited the Sea Hotel quite a number of times in the last 30 years. It has always been a pleasant welcoming place and it has not changed except perhaps for the better.The dining room is still elegant and a quality venue - not a pretentious overprices place badly re-furbished by some by some trendy designer with more regard for his arty reputation than creating a gentle calm delightful pace to eat.
The food is also excellent - well above the selection and quality that one might expect from what is a modest (and I use the word in a complimentary way) establishment. Where can you get not one but two large fillets of sole for less than £ 15.00. he service is also very good - when I asked for an extra rasher of bacon at breakfast - I got TWO not one.
South Shields as a seaside town has improved leaps and bounds since I first went there in the 1980s and the coastal road running north to Sunderland is delightful, especially on a sunny bright October morning.

"Perfect dinner!"

5

currylover25, south shields
08/10/2017

Been going here for over 20 years. It never lets us down! Great traditional food and excellent service as always. David served our table and he is typical of the friendly and efficient service at the Sea Hotel. Very knowledgeable about food he is too! We will be back soon.

"Great spot by the beach"

4

Di J, Hereford, United Kingdom
06/10/2017

This is a traditional British hotel. The friendly local staff make you very welcome.
The rooms have been refurbished and are very comfortable. Not sure if there is a lift but there are some annex rooms on the ground floor.
The food is really delicious, breakfasts cooked to order.
The beach with lovely promenade and sand dunes just across the road.

"Great Location"

4

User
05/10/2017

This hotel is in a perfect location in South Shields. You have the Dunes, Amusement arcades, the beach, swimming baths, restaurants on your doorstep, and not far from the city center.
The decor is outdated,it has seen better days, but don't let that put you off. there are no lifts so that could be a problem for some.
The staff are friendly and helpful, food good, and a little bar to chill out in before bed.
I would stay again, and I have family stay when visiting Shields, so all in all a decent hotel in a perfect location.

"Nice hotel"

4

User
01/10/2017

Just returned from a stay at the sea hotel.
Nice little hotel. Checked in just after 2pm nice friendly staff on reception.
Given our room top floor (no lift) first impressions good, room cleanish nice size and bathroom nice size also.
As an ex chambermaid two things I look for in the room are clean bathroom and clean beding nice to say both were nice and clean however I second other review's with regards to dusting a lot of dust on table tops and tea tray in room 206 could of done with a proper clean.
Having said that we were only there one night. Yes the place is dated and needs updating but the photographs dotted around of local landmarks were lovely.
We had a few drinks in the bar 2 pints of bud light £6.00 pot of tea £1.85 not bad.
Breakfast was cooked to order full English was lovely,hot and cooked perfectly. Cereal,pastrys and fruit also available and a nice big pot of hot tea and coffee. Breakfast staff lovely too.
A good over night stay would i stay again.... yes I would location great.

"Excellent Stay"

5

IndiaClayCross, Clay Cross
11/09/2017

Have just stayed for 2 nights whilst doing the Great North Run
Excellent stay. Staff very friendly and helpful, food delicious and good value. Room very clean and comfortable.
I will recommend to friends and come next year.
Happy Runner.

"Disapointed"

1

David B, Doncaster, United Kingdom
09/09/2017

My Wife and I Stayed at the Seaview Hotel South Shields between the 4th September 2017 and the 7th September 2017.
It is with regret that I must lodge these complaints with head office.
We have previously used Best Western Hotels and have had no call to complain directly to you.
Window ledge in room not fastened and able to be removed easily.
Cups in room badly chipped.{Health hazard from bacteria}.
Bathroom tiles black mould,No grout in various areas.
Cold tap on basin constantly dripping and required extra tightening to stop the drip.
Room not dusted.
Stains on both single mattresses.
The double entrance door to the first floor, had been painted and no sign to indicate wet paint resulting in my wife getting paint on her hand.
The outside area was not swept for 4 days, and cigarette ends left in ashtray,floor area and flower borders.
On Tuesday the 5th September glasses were at the end of the bar awaiting washing up, when returning 2 hours later the same glasses were still in the same place,after another hour we went to have a drink in the bar,only to find that the glasses were still there, and a member of staff was sat near the bar using his mobile phone and did not get up immediately to serve me and my wife.
Laundry Trolley blocking the fire escape route on the landing near to double door exist on the first floor.
Laundry bags left on landings blocking fire escape roots
If a fire did break out this could result in people falling and causing injury trying to escape from a fire or any other emergency.
I did not discuss these matters with the resection staff as they were not very helpful at all. We were not given a friendly greeting on arrival, and when ever I had the call to talk to a receptionist they did not seam to bother, what was going on in the hotel.

"Consistently good"

5

Booksbyally, South Shields, United Kingdom
04/09/2017

Another superb lunch at the Sea Hotel. All the years I've been going there I've never had a bad meal, lunch or dinner. Food is excellent, the prices are very reasonable (lunch time specials, 3 courses for £12.99) and the service is very good. The servers are pleasant and attentive.

"Overnight in South Shields"

3

yugg38, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
26/08/2017

To start we arrived and checked in. The receptionist never looked directly at me and gave me the key card and said we didn't get breakfast in the price rather curtly. She told us our room was on the second floor. She certainly could do with some customer service training.
We walked up the stairs and as we passed the first floor we noticed that there was loads of clean laundry stacked on the stairway between floors.
On entering the room, the first impressions were good. The floor has been recently recarpeted and there were obviously new curtains at the window. However on closer inspection the seals on the double glazing were perished and there was penetrating damp round the windows. Also the ceiling needed some attention as the paper was beginning to come away from it.
The bathroom was large but the water pressure was very low and you could only get a limited flow of water in the shower. There was no point turning the cold water on as then the shower became cold immediately.
The room was very hot and we couldn't open the windows because of the noise of funfair opposite. Outside the window was a lot of weeds, some discarded tools and some green slime on the flat roof.
Checking out was straightforward and the receptionist on this occasion helpful.
Will I stay again? Not unless there has been some serious upgrading to the building and the water pressure.

"Disappointed"

3

User
23/08/2017

Working in the area so a sea front hotel sounded appealing. On the plus side breakfast freshly cooked to order and friendly helpful waitress. You have to stay somewhere and there's not much choice so may as well be here. However : my room (103) was tiny and view was awful overlooking car park and roof with some sort of noisy machinery. Bathroom tiny, toilet inefficient and took ages to refill, shower almost none existent. Kettle plus tea and coffee available but bizarre ratio of sugars to tea/ coffee. But no herbal tea. Also strange looking Building. Another plus is the large car park.

"Very disappointed"

2

evelyn482017, Durham, United Kingdom
20/08/2017

Room 118 above reception entrance - noisy until very early in the morning. Not the room we requested. Asked for twin got a double. Top surface clean - skirting boards filthy, dressing table drawers disgusting, bathroom walls splashed. All in all very unsatisfactory. Having stayed here on 4 previous occasions expected more. Will not be visiting again.

"Get away"

4

missjm2015, Gateshead
19/08/2017

We visited here for a night away and there is nothing I can complain about. The room was nice, big bathroom with bath and shower. High speed wifi, tea and coffee facilities. We had a lovely view of the sea from our room.

"Lovely hotel"

5

User
10/08/2017

Lovely hotel on the sea front, right next to
Shows. It this didn't bother us, we were in one of the front rooms and we did not hear a thing, breakfast was lovely, staff were all pleasant, very close to pubs.

"Incredibly helpful staff"

5

User
08/08/2017

In an emergency situation I had booked the wrong dates and when I arrived they were full . Alan and the receptionist whose name I have forgotten (sorry ) spent some time trying to find another hotel for my daughter and I which they eventually found. however by some luck they received a cancellation and then proceeded to handle all the cancellation details.
They definitely went the extra mile and I will be forever grateful for their help.
Many thanks again.
Ken Skirton

"Fantastic venue"

5

ballandrew1974, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
06/08/2017

My wife and I held our wedding reception at this great little hotel on 5 Aug 2017
Firstly Alan the manager listened to our needs for the event and planned everything to perfection . The staff were so friendly and welcoming , The food was absolutely delicious and the service was 5 star .
We had many guests also staying at the hotel as well as myself and my new bride the room was lovely well equipped with what you need for your stay but no air con in the rooms however this is only a small detail .
If your looking for a friendly welcome with staff that treat you as part of the family then defiantly stay at this hotel .
Ideally located for the beech ,fun fair , parks and great coastal walks I recommend you bring your camera .
Great transport links ample free parking
5 stars
MR &MRS BALL

"Anniversary get away"

5

User
04/08/2017

Fantastic place, breakfast was lovely and staff were very polite, would definitely return.
Room was lovely and clean, short walk from pubs and beach, noise from shows across road could not be head and we stayed in a sea facing room.

"Power out but super nice"

4

Brashy, Kirkmichael, United Kingdom
24/07/2017

Stayed a couple of nights in July (Friday and Saturday) as we checked in we were told the power in part of hotel was out and could not even take a credit card swipe... no problem just give me a room with some power ... great off for a shower as just flown in from Johannesburg- arrgghh no hot water - realised myself that this must be because of the power outage - 5 minutes later the manager knocks at the door (owners hubby) explains the situation and gives me 2 options- stay for free or he would call around and find us another room.... no brainier as I already had my shower... turned out an underground power cable had disintegrated and took most of the next day to fix - still breakfast was cooked and lovely - the staff were very pleasant in what was also difficult circumstances for them.... the rooms big and the hotel a little old fashioned but added to the charm.. water pressure could be better - have stayed before and will again

"Memort lane!"

3

haylsandcj, Whitehaven, United Kingdom
14/07/2017

Very old! Its like being in the 1970s! The rooms were clean and well equipped. Was very noisy though and no air con so had to open a window. Just situated off the beach which is beautiful and free parking. Dinner was pub grub and lots of choice for breakfast. Staff very pleasant. Just needs a refurb!

"Accessible Family Room"

5

Richard M, Consett, England, United Kingdom
14/07/2017

Visited on Thursday night fully accessible family room only the 2nd one Ive been in UK wide staff fantastic as well as the food the only competition is Little Haven which has a step up into the shower no others in South Shields

"Very Pleasantly Surprised "

5

User
12/07/2017

We visited the hotel last Saturday with the dawgs, and had an excellent experience..
It was a hot evening and the was neither aircon nor fan in the room..
On speaking with the manager, he actually went out to Wickes and bought two for us..
We ended up eating in the restaurant and the meal was surprisingly good for a hotel..
The service both in the restaurant and bar could not be faulted.
And..
The breakfast was freshly cooked and again top quality..
Would particularly recommend the homemade smoothie...

"Dog bite !"

1

Deb H, Halifax, United Kingdom
10/07/2017

Feeling disappointed at the fact we paid in full for our room after my partner was attacked and bitten by another guests dog to the point of puncture wounds and tetanus jab when we got home. Yet reading other reviews I came across a review where the room was to hot and the bill was halved?? Really! ...dog bite pay in full....room to hot half the bill ?? Doesn't make sense. ( copy of some text from review I mentioned...The receptionist couldn't have been more understanding and offered to get some fans put in the room. However, 45 minutes later, there was still no sign of any fans and we took the decision to check out. I can't thank the receptionist enough for her understanding; she halved the bill for us and commiserated. )
I emailed Best Western to let them know of the incident and email was past back to the manager of the Sea Hotel, who replied basically saying because my partner didn't want to make a fuss ( being dog lovers) we had the choice to contact the owners of the dog for compensation etc, but where is the responsibility that this happened on your premises or just the fact that if you even offered a free breakfast or a coffee would of made us feel a little like you cared about your guests . We are not looking for anything free it's the principles of the matter.
If you except dogs into your hotel except responsibility too.

"Cheerful seaside hotel"

5

User
07/07/2017

Stayed here for 4 nights over the July 1st weekend. Had a great stay, close to the beach, amusements and bars. Hotel is a little old fashioned but that didn't bother us as it was mostly a place to crash and have breakfast in the AM and a beer later at night.

"Dog attacks. No towels. No room made up. "

1

Brettypeeps, Peterborough, United Kingdom
04/07/2017

We stayed there after a friends recommendation.
We arrive on a Friday 16th June at night to no towels in the room. The night porter got us some. Mistakes can happen so fair enough.
We then left the room on the the Saturday at 11:00 o'clock to get back at 7:00 PM. The room had not been made up and yet again fresh towels. I did complain to only get snubbed off in the evening. The reception staff begrudgingly got us some fresh towels. She assured me the manager would sort something out the next day for when we checked out
The next day when I went to check out. And again got a bad attitude from the receptionist. I was promised a phone call from the manager (I think I only got this promise so I would pay and leave). This call never happened. Disgusting that he could not be bothered to call.
A friend of mine was also staying in the hotel was attacked by an Alsatian on the Saturday night.
Overall this is of the worst hotels I have ever stayed in in my life. Customer service is the worst I have experienced any where.
The hotel is very dated and the room we had was not not very clean.
Think twice before you stay here.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Dear Brettypeeps
Many thanks for taking the time to review the hotel, like all progressive businesses we value all comments and develop from them.
Firstly I hope you will accept my apologies for the mistake you write about with no towels in your room on the day of arrival and any aspect of your stay you were unhappy with. I have highlighted your comments to the maid concerned and generally to all maids to help ensure this disappointment is eliminated.
With reference to your room not being serviced on the Saturday, as explained on checkout this was simply because you had placed the do not disturb notice on the door, so maids respected your wishes. They checked the two rooms with do not disturb notices on the day prior to finishing at 12.30 to see if the signs had been removed, as they had not they noted the fact on the daily room sheet to let reception know why the room had not been serviced.
I am surprised by your comments about the reception team, they including the night porter constantly score highly on customer satisfaction surveys, they have easy access to many items that guests request from adaptors, toothbrushes to extra tea tray supplies, pillows and towels or they can pass any guest request or comment onto the duty manager who is available 16 hours a day and on call through the night.
I spoke to the guest who was bitten by another guests dog at reception prior to his departure. He understood the actions of the breed as he is also the owner of an Alsatian and thanked the hotel staff for the attention given, but responsibly wanted management to be aware. As you would expect we have reviewed our dog policy in light of this, the first incident of this kind at the hotel to ensure it is also the last.
Over your stay, staff and management were available to attend to and resolve any concern you had. We are proactive in serving customers to individual requirements, we encourage guests to tell us if they have a problem during their stay, we note this in the guest directory under Complaints and present a service promise at reception to solve any problem while at the hotel.
I again apologise that my attempts to contact you after your departure failed. We are, as can be seen by many, many comments committed to serving customers.
Regards Alan

"Our wedding "

5

JonnyG2k16, Jarrow, United Kingdom
04/07/2017

My new wife and I chose this hotel for our wedding celebrations on 30/06/17 and thanks to the outstanding service from each and every member of staff working there it played a huge part in our special day being absolutely perfect! From the first moment we enquired about the wedding right up until the day we were helped, looked after and advised by the manager Alan. He's got so much experience doing weddings and it showed on the day. I would recommend to anyone who is thinking of having their wedding at this hotel to go for it! The food at this hotel is also unreal! The 3 course wedding meal tasted like and was presented like something you'd see on Masterchef! From my wife Rebecca and myself we just want to say a massive thank you to every single staff member at the hotel.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank You for your kind comments, really pleased you enjoyed your BIG day. Regards Alan

"one night stay"

4

Gasimm1, Choppington, United Kingdom
20/06/2017

We stayed one night in mid june, the hotel is a bit dated but the upside is that it is in a great location, the hotel has a large car park, the staff were very friendly and polite, the room we stayed in was very clean and spacious,.
we ate in the restaurant for our evening meal and found the food good, the breakfast the next day was very good with loads of choice, would i stay again? Yes definitely

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your review, all help drive change in line with customer requests. The new high speed internet access asked for by guests has been a great success. Regards Alan

"Nice surprise "

4

User
20/06/2017

Went with my partner for a few drinks then decided to have a meal.....meal was really nice...I always leave a clean plate ...genorous portions ..couldn't eat it all. ...will definitely revisit..staff friendly. .place clean..what more do you want..

"The hotel room that thought it was a sauna. We checked out early!"

1

Sue W, Wellingborough, United Kingdom
06/06/2017

We've looked at this hotel in the past, but been put off by the reviews. However, last week we received some terrible news which necessitated a last minute trip up north. Making last minute travel arrangements meant we had to take our dog with us and the Sea Hotel was the only one in South Shields which actually stated on their website that they accepted dogs. In a panic, I rang and spoke to a helpful member of staff who assured me as to the suitability of the room. We arrived and were cheerfully greeted, and accepted the room as being, in my hubby's words, 'it is what it is'. Because we had a dog with us, we were in the annex out the back of the hotel, overlooking the car park. The rooms are in a low, prefabricated style building facing west, with a conservatory style corridor running along them, separating them from the (unattractive) car park. With it being the hottest day of the year so far, the sun beating down on the conservatory meant that the room was extremely hot when we arrived (around 4pm). The room had no air conditioning and the window didn't open, so we left the door open. Unfortunately, that allowed the dog to escape, so we placed the tub chair in front of the door to prevent her getting out. The room was spacious and clean, but the mattress on the bed was badly sagged in the middle. The shower worked, but had very little pressure in it. The towels were old and thin; my dog has better quality towels than these. Above all, the temperature was stifling. We sat and unwound from the journey with the door open for an hour, listening to the noise from the adjoining rooms as everyone else was doing the same, then left to go out for the evening. On our return, the room was unbearably hot but, being exhausted we fell asleep quickly. However, I woke just after midnight feeling as though my blood was boiling. I don't know what the temperature was, but I don't think I've ever been so hot. It was so unbearably hot that we actually took the decision to prop the room door open with the chair again, hoping that if anyone did try to enter the room, the dog would bark and frighten them away. However, we didn't relax and had a fitful night's sleep. Having a hotel room door open which leads directly onto a car park on a main street is not exactly ideal in terms of privacy or security. Next morning, we had breakfast, which was nothing special, but quite adequate. The staff in the restaurant were very friendly but I complained to reception about the room. The receptionist couldn't have been more understanding and offered to get some fans put in the room. However, 45 minutes later, there was still no sign of any fans and we took the decision to check out. I can't thank the receptionist enough for her understanding; she halved the bill for us and commiserated. This hotel needs a total overhaul. It's very sad and, for such a prime location, is really letting itself down. I've rated it one point as it does say 'rating of this property'. The property really is terrible but the staff are doing their best in difficult circumstances and deserve to better working conditions. I'm amazed that no one has thought to put some blinds on the conservatory windows, arrange for the room windows to open and spend a few pounds on some new towels. It's not rocket science and it wouldn't cost a fortune. What a difference it would make. £80 a night for this room is, in my opinion, twice as much as it should be. There are better and far cheaper B&Bs in Ocean Road just around the corner; shame they don't take dogs!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
I was sorry to read that your trip was as a result of bad news and hope that this improves soon.
We welcome and value all comments and use them as part of our planning process for changes in operation and development. Your comment about being put off by other reviews made me check this year's TripAdvisor review scores, we have received 26 reviews with 15 guests rating 5, 8 guests rating 4, 1 guest rating 3, 1 guest rating 2 and your review with a rating of 1. Along with TripAdvisor reviews we monitor standards with internal inspections, external independent inspections and guest comments through other guest review site, which again I am pleased to report that the scores have been on a positive upward trend. This said it is always disappointing to receive negative comments like yours.
I am sure you do not want to mislead other travellers, so I must point out that the Annex building is not a prefabricated building. For the benefit of other travellers the annex was part of a £125,000 development, it comprises of 5 bedrooms, offering ground floor easy access rooms, two of which are suitable for wheelchair users. We receive many bookings requesting to be accommodated in the annex. As you write it was the hottest day of the year, I apologise again for and discomfort you experienced and thank you for your kind comments about the staff. The duty receptionist had asked the maids to take fans over when they serviced the annex rooms thinking you wanted them for that evening. On a proactive basis from your comments, I have made fans available as standard in all annex bedrooms for guests to use on these extreme days. I appreciate your comments suggesting solutions, however I hope you will appreciate that some items have been designed for safety, for example the annex bedroom windows that run along the corridor are closed as part of fire safety to stop the spread of smoke in the event of a fire allowing guests time to evacuate safely.
We like many hotels use the services of a laundry company to supply and launder bedroom and table linen. I have personally checked bedrooms and laundry cupboard stock, but cannot find any towels as you describe, so must assume the towels you write about have already been discarded.
As you can imagine, we serve many guests with very differing requirements and try hard to accommodate all, so for example the breakfast you describe as acceptable, we produced a breakfast menu with all the traditional English breakfast items plus other hot and cold dishes including vegetarian and gluten free options all freshly prepared to order along with a self-service buffet table of cereals, fruits, pastries, juices and preserves to choose from.
I appreciate you travelled under difficult circumstances, but I must say the experience you write is not the general comments we receive, this said I assure you I will use your comments constructively. We are proactive in serving customers to individual requirements we encourage guests to tell us if they have a problem during their stay, we note this in the guest directory under Complaints and present a service promise at reception to solve any problem while at the hotel.
I hope you will revisit the hotel on your next trip to our area.
Alan Watson, General Manager.

"Nice Sunday lunch. "

5

c0linjn, Jarrow, United Kingdom
04/06/2017

Visited with my parents for Sunday lunch. Food was pretty decent and there was plenty to go around. The surroundings were pleasant but looking a bit dated but that's no problem. The set menu is good value for money and although the place was pretty busy there was plenty of room.

"Value"

4

skyranger_of_utopia, London, United Kingdom
19/05/2017

Friendly staff and efficient management. My friends on I were finishing our coast to coast cycle road in the area so it was very handy. Staff took our bikes into the hotel no problem. Overall very good value for money for our purpose which was a one night relaxing stay. Restaurant served a delicious fish and chips and the waiting staff were very friendly. Rooms are small and have tiny single beds but the the beautiful South Shields sandy beach is just across the road and made up for the beds. (Unfortunately for me the 'Dunes' amusement arcade was right across the road with flashing lights 'til midnight. But I know if I'd ask to be moved to another room it would not have been a problem. I was just too tired after a long day's cycling!) Beautiful, sandy beach. Located on the promenade. Perfect for long, relaxing walks.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at Best Western The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Firstly congratulations on completing the coast to coast cycle road trip.
Many thanks for your kind comments, really pleased you enjoyed your stay.
I assume from your comments you booked a single bedroom, which has a standard size single bed, however for the benefit or other travellers, we also offer bedrooms with Double and King size beds, along with Twin, Family and Easy Access bedrooms. The new promenade complements the beaches and the many pieces of public art located along the sea front. Regards Alan

"80th Birthday Party"

5

Chinwig67, South Shields, United Kingdom
30/04/2017

I recently celebrated my 80th birthday at the Sea Hotel with 28 family and friends. Very good choice of menus from which I had to choose 5 items for each course. We were all impressed by the room decorations and helpful service. Everyone enjoyed the meal and the setting. My late husband and I have enjoyed many meals and other functions which have all been equally enjoyable. Well done to the Sea Hotel team, with special Thanks to Alan Watson. Pat Saxon, South Shields.

"Nice Hotel"

3

M W, Plymouth
21/04/2017

When I drove to this hotel I can Of thought oh my god where am I staying. From the outside the place doesn't look great and the car park could do with a bit of improvement.
The reception area looks a bit tired. But when I got to my room I was quite impressed. My room and bathroom were quite large, with loads of space. The bed was confortable and the room was very clean.
The breakfasts here are really good despite it taking a while to get served.
The hotel is within walking distance of town and all the attractions on the sea front are second away- The ducks on a nearby lake may keep you awake at night as they can be loud especially if you have your bedroom window open.
Unfortunately on my last night a few guests were having a massive argument outside my from around 11 pm. I am not sure what the hotel did with these guests but it seemed to go on for ages.

"Ideal location for families"

3

Don H, Garstang
17/04/2017

The hotel has its own large car park and lift for those heavy bags.. Whilst not a luxury hotel bedrooms are very clean and the beds are comfy. Staff are pleasant and helpful. Whilst located a busy roundabout and adjacent to the Pleasuure Beach noise was not a problem. With the leas being near by it makes it an ideal base for anyone taking part in the Great North Run. An easy walk to the Marsden Rock or the Lighthouse takes in some lovely views. At the Marsden Rock there are steps down to the beach as well as a lift plus a cafe.

"Welcoming and Friendly"

5

owlface8, Wakefield, United Kingdom
16/04/2017

We had one overnight stay at the hotel last weekend with our small dog. We found the hotel very clean and comfortable. The staff were really friendly and made us and our dog feel really welcome. The breakfast was lovely and the staff set up a table in the bar so that our dog could stay with us. We will certainly return next time we visit family in Newcastle. Nice park over the road and a small sandy beach to walk on nearby.

"Wake"

5

User
12/04/2017

Sadly had a wake for a good friend here wonderful service by david,sonia and samantha couldn't do.enough for us will stay here in a heartbeat to meet a lovely group of people keep up the awesome work guys xx

"Golden wedding party"

4

KathWardale, South Shields, United Kingdom
11/04/2017

3 course meal for 75 people with a choice of 5 starters 5 mains 5 sweets was perfect and room decoration was just as we had planned attention to detail was brilliant we had guests from far and wide for the weekend stay and staff were brilliant we would recommend this hotel for food value for money and pleasant we had a brilliant weekend and thanks again to Alan Watson head chef and all there staff for making our golden wedding so special well done to all the team kath and preston

"Anniversay Party"

4

Moira e, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
11/04/2017

We stayed recently for a family party, the rooms are a little dated and small but very clean. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the food was great at the party. best part was breakfast was cooked for you fresh. Enjoyable weekend

"Comfortable and welcoming"

4

eoinsmith, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
05/04/2017

Have visited a number of times and never been disappointed. Rooms are clean and comfortable, staff are welcoming, and bar is well stocked. Wouldn't hesitate to stay again and would recommend to anyone visiting South Shields.

"Very good"

4

newcastle1960, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
05/04/2017

We booked this hotel for a special family meal and I must say they didn't disappoint, the table was ready and set out beautifully, all the staff we encountered displayed first class customer service. Everyone on table enjoyed their meal and nearly all made comments on how good it was, we definitely be going back.

"Disappointing"

2

tinydancer1000, York, United Kingdom
21/11/2016

The room was acceptable, the bed comfortable but storage space inadequate. The shower didn't work but there was plenty of hot water for the bath and we could control the temperature in the bedroom. Other guests were noisy and floorboards upstairs creaked like fireworks crackling - never heard anything like it. Breakfast was disappointing; plenty of food but poor quality - toast like cardboard, scrambled egg seemingly reconstituted etc. A hot croissant would have been nice but there were no croissants at all, just packaged cakes. The breakfast room was unheated. None of this spoiled our weekend but it could have been so much nicer for the price.

"extremely dates"

2

steve r, Newcastle, United Kingdom
19/11/2016

the hotel staff were helpful and downstairs the hotel is clean and reasonably well presented, however the room was dated, the heating wasn't turned on and it takes an age for hot water to come through the shower head. not mentioning the smoke run to get from car park to hotel - not recommended

"Dropped in!"

3

895keith, Sunderland, United Kingdom
15/11/2016

This was to be our 4th visit and I rate it 3 due to the unprofessional way booking was handled this year. We booked 22 rooms last November and this was confirmed by the hotel. We were initially unable to contact the manager but found out 3 weeks before the event that only 15 rooms had been reserved and 6 in another hotel. This was unacceptable and the event was cancelled.

"Amazing Food!"

4

User
09/11/2016

The restaurant serves some fantastic dishes! The cheese burger and scampi are my two favourites! The service you get is top level and the staff are very friendly!
The rooms... either a tiny tiny room or room that a family could stay in!
A very dated hotel, but that doesn't make the stay anything less!

"Celebratory meal"

3

kitkat080, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
06/11/2016

We've had many good meals at the Sea Hotel over years, so it was an easy choice when thinking of where to go to celebrate Dads birthday. The 3 course lunch is always good we thought. But what a disappointment it was.
6 different starters & nobody was particularly happy, too cold, not enough, cheap white bread with pate.....
Main course, I chose sea bass, a favourite of mine (£2 extra though) on the menu it said cream sauce, but it was floating in this butter greasy sauce, couldn't even see the fillets of fish, usually there is a huge amount of hot fresh veg, but not today, not enough, cold, carrots still had bits of peel and bad bits on. Asked for more carrots, we got them when we'd finished our meals.
Deserts overall were good, although the birthday boy my dad was very disappointed with jam roly poly, there was no jam.....
Poor overall not worth £109 with 1 round of drinks.

"Superb Staff"

5

chalkywhite26, Stafford
12/10/2016

Stayed here earlier this year for one night on a business trip.
In truth the hotels decoration could be improved in places, however it was great value for money.
I have given it 5 stars because the staff were outstanding and seemed to genuinely enjoy working there.

"very well located hotel"

4

derekm1966, corby
09/10/2016

We stayed in this hotel for two nights on a weekend trip to south shields, although the rooms are a little dated the room cost for the night compensated for this. It was clean and the staff were very good. The breakfast was excellent.
Well done sea hotel

"An overnight stay in South Shields"

3

ceb346, Lytham St Anne's, United Kingdom
05/10/2016

It was lovely to be back in South Shields after many years, for a family get together.
We needed somewhere to stay with our dog, as well as somewhere to walk him.
The Sea Hotel was in a perfect location, being near the beach and parks.
Staff were great - from the receptionist when we arrived, the barman who looked after us for breakfast - in the bar- so our dog could be with us and the very friendly cleaning staff who chatted to us.
I'm afraid that's all the positive things I can say because the hotel itself requires a massive expenditure to update it - it is severely in need of a total upgrade, which is clearly evident from the bedrooms, bathrooms & corridors.An example - our shower didn't work in the evening & the next morning, we had to get the key to a nearby room to shower. Carpets need ripping up & burning, they are so dirty.
Add to this the boiling hot room - no way of turning off the radiator and the very noisy bedroom doors.
The staff obviously work very hard to combat all these problems, but there is no easy fix.

"Meal"

4

User
03/10/2016

Had a lovely meal but found the staff lacking that friendly welcoming touch like it used to have, good menu, clean and tidy bar area right on the sea front lovely location. Sorry to have herd that one of the best staff they had left.

"Nice hotel in a great location"

4

Steve J, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
03/10/2016

South Shields is a friendly seaside town in South Tyneside and well worth a visit. The Sea Hotel is located at the end of Ocean Road just opposite Marine Park. Ocean Road is well know for its selection of restaurants and pubs as well as the usual seaside attractions. The hotel itself has a relaxed, informal feel and offers great value for money. The restaurant offers a good selection of food, quality is excellent and prices very reasonalble. Service throughout my stay was friendly and and professional.
My room was quiet and well equipped but some of the decor and fittings looked a bit 1990's.

"Friendly staff & super dog friendly"

3

User
27/09/2016

We needed somewhere to break an 10 hour journey back to London from the Highlands and decided to stay here. Perfect in term of distance as it provided a 6/4 hour split.
Good location with dogs as it had a beach and 2 parks right nearby.
The main positives about the hotel are firstly the friendly & helpful staff & secondly how super dog friendly the hotel is- including a chopped up sausage for each dog for breakfast!
Whilst the bedroom are fine the bathrooms are in need of updating but for a one night stopover with dogs, I can highly recommend it and would chose to stay here again.
If they added a lift that'd be great too as we had large suitcases with us!

"Fish & Chips tea.."

3

User
19/09/2016

We were not planning to eat out but the smell coming from the fish & chip counters along the front were too tempting to resist. Decided on a sit down meal in the bar restaurant. Good size fish (no lemon on top as advertised), chips were a bit on the thin side, tarter sauce, bread & butter and a pot of tea for two... Al in all, very nice and value for money.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review, sorry we missed off the lemon wedge. Pleased to read that you found the food to be very good and offered value for money.
If I may suggest, try the main hotel Restaurant, chef likes hand cut chunky chips.
Regards
Alan

"Food delicious "

5

User
18/09/2016

Visited the restaurant for lunch with my grandma and enjoyed every minute. Food was amazing I had the roast dinner which is well worth the money. Staff were very attentive and pleasant. The restaurant was busy but there was no waiting around. Will definitely return and recommend to friends

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your kind review.
Regards
Alan

"The Truly Wonderful Sea Hotel"

5

User
18/09/2016

The fantastic Sea Hotel, South Shields what can I say about it other than there really is no place like it. The food is truly amazing absolutely delicious. The management and staff are fantastic so friendly and helpful they make sure your every need is catered for and you are always greeted with a smile. My mam and I go every Sunday for lunch, it is our little treat each week and we both so look forward to it. I held my 60th birthday party there last week the room was decorated beautifully, it looked amazing and the food was, as always to die for, absolutely delicious. Everyone of my family and friends commented on how perfect the night was. This hotel is second to none we absolutely love it. Roll on next Sunday!!! Alison Jane Addison

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your kind review, good to read you enjoyed your birthday celebrations at the hotel.
Regards
Alan

"Awful food"

1

User
13/09/2016

A planned family reunion was spoilt by the awful food. We were a party of 13 and the food was rubbish! Won't be going again! The serving staff were very nice .
We were anaemic scampi, crap tinned peas. I had a chicken Kiev which looked nothing like a Kiev and was served with a tomato sauce.
Would not recommend it at all. ??

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Really sorry to read you had not enjoyed your meal. The Three Course Menu that you selected from has been very popular for food choice, quality and value at £12.95.
For a wider choice of food along with a choice of sides please try our full menu, I am sure you will enjoy and be back for more.
Regards
Alan

"OK - Breakfast Superb"

3

C-Wearside, Piercebridge, United Kingdom
25/08/2016

Hotel is quite dated but it is what I excepted. Clean enough. Room was okay (very warm during the night!) bar prices okay, you could tell the draught hadn't been regularlly pulled. All in all think similar to a upmarket blackpool style hotel. Plenty pillows in the room which makes a change from some hotels. Location is great for fish & chips, a few seaside pubs, the arcades, beach & the lpark.
Telly in the room is tiny & not sure why I got knocked by the maid at 09.55 (obviously putting pressure on for us to do one so they could service the room) even though checkout is a miserly 11am. Shower was hideously difficult to get working to a consistent temp.
Onto breakfast. Continental offerings were a bit average but I'm shocked at having stopped at number of 4* hotels all over the UK I can honestly say the best cooked breakfast Ive ever had, was here: All items seemed to be top quality. Eggs (poached and fried) cooked to perfection, to order & served by a pleasent and polite member of staff (female) whose name I didnt catch.
At the right price i'd consider stopping again with the family.

"staff and food great!"

5

paulcrissy, Goole, United Kingdom
25/08/2016

rates of room great, view overlooking Tyne and out to sea, food very good, staff very helpful and experienced and all English. room was to warm and could not turn heating off also could do with a lick of paint

"Tired - in need of TLC"

2

Mark H, Cheshire, United Kingdom
19/08/2016

Very tired hotel - old fashioned and in urgent need of renovation. The first room offered was in the annex in the car park - appalling and refused to stay in it - second room offered was in main hotel and better than first but unbearably hot - no air con! Receptionist arranged for a fan in the room which worked OK. We had 2 rooms - in one, the TV did not work! Sink taps were faulty and generally rooms not clean and old and worn out!

"Nice hotel"

4

Chris H, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
08/08/2016

Nice and clean, being re-decorated. Only major downside is that there are no lifts, despite having wheelchair ramps into the hotel making it look more disabled friendly than it is, trying to get to the car park through the hotel was an obstacle course of steps. Breakfast was good and tasty, and the room I had was a good size.

"Not alone in the room!"

2

janpoppy2016, Rugby, United Kingdom
07/08/2016

This is a very dated, tired hotel which is not kept very clean. Even though the housekeeping staff were in evidence, public rooms as well as the bedrooms were not clean; dust and cobwebs in the corners. I killed a great many bugs in the room on the first night. The bedrooms and the corridor to the first floor rooms were both unbearably hot. Thank goodness I was able to borrow a fan from the reception to replace the one in my room which was not working. My colleague was not so fortunate and passed two very uncomfortable nights. The one saving grace of this place is the food, which was excellent!

"What a disgrace of a hotel "

1

Theresa B, South Shields
04/08/2016

Stayed in annex room no air con working was told by other people has never been working even though got told was only just broke . seagull dirt all over cleaners did there best but smell terrible asked to be moved to another room .no better still red hot with again no air con in room just a fan that blew heat around room . bathroom big Blue stain in Bath which is as old as the hills .manger and others stripping wallpaper around you bits of dado rail around you health and safety issues hotel needs health and safety check for quite a lot of things deputy management sure heard someone calling her June needs lesson in maners on how she talks to her staff .

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Hi Teresa B of South Shields
Thanks for taking the time to review. I am sorry you did not enjoy your stay. I appreciate with the hot weather we have been enjoying, the rooms will take longer to cool from the sea breeze, we provide fans to assist, but have never promoted air conditioned bedrooms. We installed air conditioning in two rooms as a trial some years ago, but found little request for the facility. I will remove the broken unit and review possible inclusion of new units with our on-going refurbishments. Again I apologise if the corridor refurbishment has upset you in any way, we listen to guest comments in person and through social media and act on them. We work in small sections of the corridor and work the hours when most guests are out and the bedrooms are getting serviced so as to minimise and disturbance. The next two sections of corridor are suitable for us to close the bedrooms in each area to ensure no guest disturbance. I take a very active part to ensure guests and colleagues are safe in and around the hotel and pleased to report that no reported accidents or injuries have occurred through the refurbishment. With reference to seagulls, I cannot recall ever receiving a comment, however I will of cause review both contract cleaning of windows and our cleaning procedures to see if any changes are needed. Regards Alan

"Very nice place to stay"

5

austinallegro1, Dudley, United Kingdom
02/08/2016

this hotel is very nice and clean. Probably the best hotel we stop at for friendliest of ALL the staff. the breakfasts are excellent but our dogs got their sausages before our breakfast came. truly a dog friendly Hotel and surrounding areas and beach.

"Needs an upgrade!"

2

nouveau27, Musselburgh, United Kingdom
31/07/2016

Sea Hotel near the beach and the South Pier and the Funfair.
This hotel has seen better days. The room and all the surroundings were very tired. Painters ladders left for my whole stay in the hall plus huge bags of (dirty?) linen in the hallway. Room service meal not collected by the morning and missing coffee tray items. Room extremely hot with only top windows open. Not offered a fan. Room cramped. Bathroom outdated and shabby. Bathroom shower had no thermostat a problem when hot water boiling. Shower went cold after a few moments.
Food not bad if kept to simple items such as fish and chips. Breakfast coffee stewed.

"Great find"

5

smokieno1, Arbroath, United Kingdom
31/07/2016

Location excellent. On the seafront with an amusement park opposite and a large beautiful park with a boating pond and a minature railway to the right. There is also a large modern swimming and leisure centre to the left. Hotel has an ample free car park.
Warm friendly welcome from reception with offer of wake up call and newspaper a nice touch.
Room was quite small but comfortable, clean and had all the little extras like sewing kit, toiletries, trouser press, phone and room service if required. Bathroom nice but poor water pressure from the shower.
Had a good nights sleep, was nice and quiet.
Had meal in hotel restaurant last night and also breakfast this morning. Both were excellent. Restaurant is beautiful and staff are very good. Would recommend restaurant even if you are not staying, just passing. Reasonably priced too.
Definitely plan to stay here again in the future. ??????????

"Overnight stay"

4

User
29/07/2016

We only used this hotel for an overnight stay. Room a bit dated but we'll equipped and very clean. Although radiator switched off it was still very hot. Excellent breakfast and staff. Would stay again

"Not good"

1

Ian C, Sunderland, England, United Kingdom
25/07/2016

I stayed at the sea hotel for 1 night as I was attending a wedding reception there. The hotel was fully booked, as it was the same weekend as the Sunderland airshow After a speedy check in me and my wife went to the room to drop of our bags before going to the wedding reception. The bedroom was clean but the toilet have been used and not flushed or cleaned and whoever had used it must have had a bad case of dyhorria....and the whole bowl was covered.....I went to reception and they sent someone up to clean it.....the weather was sunny and a very hot 23 degrees, and the radiator in the room was on full, making the room baking hot...I delt with this myself.
We had a good day/night at the wedding reception apart from the heat as their didn't appear to be any working air con in either the function room or the bedroom was very hot which led to a very uncomfortable nights sleep....in the morning my wife went to have a shower, but it was broke and we both had to go to the room of a family member to have a shower....also the taps on the sink were marked incorrectly which led to my wife almost brushing her teeth with hot water. I did tell the receptionist when checking out, she wrote it down but seemed a bit disinterested.
Next time I will just get a taxi home as its only about 15 miles and will be cheaper than the £84 we paid for the stay. I've gave it a one for cleanliness as that's the lowest possible but would have given it a minus figure. If it's a warm day, sleep on the beach.

"Needs updated"

3

Nicola C, Sunderland, England, United Kingdom
25/07/2016

Stayed here on Saturday night for a wedding and found the rooms in the hotel itself far too hot. There was a fan in the cupboard, but that didn't help the heat at all, but we were unable to open our window due to the noise coming from a fan outside our room! The shower sprayed water all over the floor, meaning we had to use excess towels to make the floor safe to walk on. The hotel itself was very clean and tidy, but the attitude of the blond barmaid in the wedding venue room was unbelievable. She was very sully, had no words to say to the guests and when getting a 'small diet coke' mistaken for a pint of full-fat coke there was no apology either (luckily I am not diabetic). I will not be staying here again, although I still really enoyed the wedding itself!

"Private Function"

4

Lisa S, Washington, United Kingdom
25/07/2016

Room was personalised for the event and balloons/menus provided by the hotel. Food choice was good and everyone enjoyed the meal. Staff were very accommodating. Water bottles provided in wine coolers without ice & served in half pint glasses (not very elegant for a party) radiators stuck on 'hot' all evening. Still an enjoyable night, would return to this venue. Easy access to car park.

"Support the Old World Hotel!"

5

PHTKELLY, UK
19/07/2016

You are not going to get 5 star spa suites and glitz or boutique You will get a traditional sea side hotel with an amazing real friendliness and a bend over backwards to help and serve you and I believe you cannot put a price or value on service like that!
We had a clean comfortable and tidy yet dated room and the acid test for the old world experience is that you get real glasses in the bathroom not prewrapped plastic!
Yes we had a sea view on the best weekend weather of the year. Food and breakfast were more than satisfactory and a fresh cooked breakfast served direct to your table and no battle at the buffet with those sausages that could have been under the red lights for hours!
As an aside having diabetes recent bowel and gastric surgery combined with sun and alcohol on a hot Sunday without eating properly was this fools very foolish downfall the hotel staff when I collapsed were efficient professional and respectful even with my emotional confused outbursts and had me at the Hospital and treated within an hour all I can say is Thankyou

"No complaints!"

5

lrobertson3006, Jarrow,Tyne & Wear
18/07/2016

18 of us visited for my mams 70th birthday. Staff were brilliant, lots of them and very helpful and pleasant. We had the 3 course meal, with a great choice, everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. As with most hotels, drinks were on the pricey side. This hotel is in a great location for visitors to South Shields, close to beach, fair, parks, pubs and shops.

"Very nice meal"

5

User
16/07/2016

I enjoyed a lovely meal here with husband for our anniversary last month. The service was great and the food was delicious. I would definitelyanniversar to family and friends and I will be returning soon. Thank you for a great niggh to remember.

"Great Food & Service."

4

Chezza1978, Telford, United Kingdom
13/07/2016

We stayed here for 2 nights, while attending a wedding, held within the hotel.
Not particularly pretty from outside, but this hotel is in a good location along the sea front, close to attractions, beach & the free onsite parking was a bonus.
A little dated throughout, but you can see the hotel is kept well & is obviously a busy place. The room & bathroom could do with a little TLC, but it was fine for a short stay.
The service we received throughout our stay was great - efficient, polite & friendly, particularly during the wedding breakfast & evening function, where the whole team worked really hard to ensure the happy couple were looked after. Nothing was too much trouble.
The food here was also lovely - cannot fault anything - freshly cooked, hot breakfast, the wedding meal was delicious, with a good choice for the guests & the evening buffet was tasty, fresh & plentiful.
All in all, a lovely place to stay....keep up the good work!!

"Okay for a night "

3

Bootrek, Staffs
08/07/2016

The hotel is not the prettiest from the outside but it was okay inside.
Free parking to rear of hotel...if you walk through the door off the car park the reception is past the bar and through the restaurant. A few folk looked a bit lost coming off the car park thinking reception would be the first thing you saw.
Receptionist wasn't the friendliest she had probably been there all day and ready for home. I was allocated a room on the first floor. The reception area was large and bright with quite a grand staircase leading to upstairs couldn't see a lift. There was a door leading out to the promenade and funfair.
My room, well you could say it looked dated. The headboard on the bed was large and up the wall probably made it look a bit more modern. But the room itself was a good size and you could walk round the bed. The bed was clean and comfortable. There was a couple of chairs in the room, a desk and wardrobe and set of drawers housing tea/ coffee. The kettle didn't click off automatically one to be mindful of although I did advise on check out. There were a free hangers but the wardrobe was a bit dodgy especially when the handle cane away from the door.
Bathroom was large, i did wonder on the cleanliness when i filled the bath and saw paper like pieces floating on it. There were toiletries and decent sized towels.
I did have an okay sleep but the room was very warm despite opening all the windows and leaving some curtains open to let air through.
Breakfast was nice and the waitress attentive. Full cooked is just under £10.
Checked out with a friendly receptionist who said they would change the kettle.
On the whole a good stay.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your balanced review. Please accept my apologies about your poor welcome, not the norm. I have spot checked your room and pleased to report that the wardrobe and kettle are working correctly. I appreciate your visit was for business and all reviews are a personal opinion, but we get hundreds of visitor staying with us for multiple night stays on business along with leisure clients, visiting the many places of interest the area has to offer. Your review on price of breakfast is correct, however many of our bed and breakfast rates offer breakfast for £1 per person. Regards Alan

"Wouldnt Recommend"

2

Jason M, Glasgow
07/07/2016

Stayed here in July 16 on business, wasnt much of a choice in the area of hotels and ended up here.
Its a bit like fawlty towers, tiny bedrooms (nothing like the picture on here) bed wedged in a corner between two walls so that you had to crawl across the bed to get out of it, although it was pretty comfortable.
The room tho was soooooooo warm, no air con, cold rainy day but it was like an oven even without any heating on
Bathroom was grim and in need of a serious revamp
The bar also had the same heat issue and was so uncomfortable to sit in that we went out to a nicer bar up the road
I didnt find it particularly good value for money
Plus points car park with plenty spaces, pleasant enough staff, but I wouldnt come back, if I was in South Shields again id stay in Newcastle and use the metro to get to south shields

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thanks for taking the time to review, really sorry you did not enjoy your stay. We offer many sizes of rooms from easy access for wheel chair users through, Family, King, Double, Twin and single. Park and Sea views, I would recommend to all customers let reception know preferably on booking any requests for type, size or view of bedroom. I hope you will re visit again, try one of the larger options of rooms and I am sure you will enjoy your stay. Regards Alan

"Brilliant hotel, amazing food and top staff"

5

xox_katie_xox, Sunderland, United Kingdom
28/06/2016

Recently had our wedding at this hotel and cannot fault the hotel at all. The staff are absolutely fantastic, very helpful and friendly. The food was some of the best food we have ever tried and had numerous compliments from our guests. The bar service was extremely quick and guests were never queuing long. There was a few of us who stayed over night and the rooms were brilliant. Very clean, spacious and comfortable. There was plenty of choice for breakfast from a full english, to poached eggs on toast or cereal. The staff again were quick and helpful. Would definitely recommend this hotel for a meal or a stay or a wedding/party.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many Thanks for your kind review. Regards Alan

"Stepping back in time but not in a good way!"

2

Karen G, Morpeth, United Kingdom
18/06/2016

Popped in for fish and chips lunch. Fish greasy and chips thin and undercooked. Restaurant is dark and dingy and we were sat next to the window! Needs bringing into the 20th century. Staff pleasant though.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Sorry you did not enjoy your lunch, the fish and chips as you can imagine on the sea front is very popular, so I was very surprised to read your review. the only regular comment is that the portion is too much. Our restaurant is traditional with table service, table linen and linen napkins, rather than the more modern alternative of wipe clean wood table and paper napkin. One wall is just about all glass offering views over the park, along with table and down lights around the room. I am unsure if it was a cloudy or dark day to make the restaurant appear dark? I will review lamps used. Many thanks for taking the time to review. Regards Alan

"Hot, flashing, small"

1

Markez7, Wakefield, United Kingdom
17/06/2016

This hotel is tired. The room I had had a sea view but this came with neon flashing lights until around 3 or 4am.
The room was unbearably warm. It was May the window didn't open properly so it was stifling.
Breakfast OK, but on the previous day we had had a better, cheaper breakfast in the local Wetherspoons type place in the centre of town.
Pluses - the staff really helpful and interested.

"Great staff and food"

4

321picky, Nottingham, United Kingdom
11/06/2016

Just returned from a short break at this hotel and have nothing but praise for the staff and the whole ambience of the place. This was our second visit and we were lucky enough to be given the same room in the annexe. This was very quiet and included a large wet room as well as good parking and wifi connection. The food in both the restaurant and bar was excellent, freshly prepared and with good helpings. Although the hotel is right on the front opposite the funfair, this did not detract from our enjoyment, and the two local parks were a definite bonus. The hotel needs a little updating but everywhere was kept very clean, and the staff obviously work together well as a team. We can't wait to return to enjoy the tlc provided by this team.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thanks for your positive review. Regards Alan

"cat show visit"

3

scottishcatman, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
01/06/2016

Nicely located on sea front opposite fun fair. Clean,warm and friendly staff could do with updating and a lift.Front rooms a bit noisy Bar very please t. A typical seaside hotel. Our cat also enjoyed his stay and the staff happy to see pet,s.

"Such lovely people"

5

Michelle D, Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
31/05/2016

I stayed at the hotel for 2 nights with my friend over May Bank Holiday as we were in South Shields visiting her Mum. All of the people that looked after us during our stay were so lovely, from the waiting staff through to the night Manager, nothing was too much trouble. The room was big, beds comfy, tea and coffee available and we could see the sea. The breakfast choice was amazing. Wouldn't hesitate to return.

"comfy beds"

4

kintrak, Newcastle upon tyne
30/05/2016

Nice hotel good room very comfy bed, excellent Breakfast would defintley stay again. Great location near good bars and the famous Ocean Road curry Houses.Good parking facilities and Friendly helpful staff

"good stay"

4

hayley j, Wooler, United Kingdom
30/05/2016

enjoyed a stay here with my husband and little girl, room was good, although tv signal was poor, breakfast in the morning was lovely, plenty of choice, we ate in the restaurant in the evening and the service was good as was the food, special mention to rebecca for being so friendly and helpful, the only thing we will keep in mind is due to not having a lift in the building and having mobility issues four flights of stairs to the second floor was exhausting, but next time I will ask for a room on the ground floor which are for disabled guests

Me and my boyfriend stayed here for one night for his birthday. We are only local ourselves but decided a night break would be nice. Staff were extremely pleasant, hotel was warm and welcoming, room was immaculate and don't know how anybody can see that the place is outdated, our bathroom looked well up to date and the furniture may look "old fashioned" to some but the quality is superb. Our room was also massive!
Our breakfast which was included in the price was delicious, would definitely stay again :)

"wedding reception and hotel stay"

5

Mr-B0ng0, Hemel Hempstead
20/05/2016

The Best Western Hotel was outstanding.We couldn't fault anything that this Hotel offered.
The wedding reception was wonderful and couldn't believe the choice of food we were given in the day and in the evening.
The staff were very polite and helpful and we felt very welcome from the moment we arrived.
The hotel is situated on the seafront at South Shields and we were able to go for a lovely stroll along the promenade in the morning of the wedding.
If you are looking for a venue to host a wedding or a party this is the No 1 choice.
Thank you Sea Hotel for making our stay very rememberable.

"We held our wedding reception afternoon and evening 30/04/16"

5

marc0l468, England, United Kingdom
19/05/2016

We could not be happier with the Sea Hotel. From our first visit Alan and his team could not have been more helpful, We really felt so comfortable making our plans and any request was warmly agreed. Their experience and professionalism makes planning with them a pleasure. The reception was just amazing food fabulous table displays immaculate and service second to none.
Our evening reception continued in the same way food again was exceptional and we really feel nothing is too much for this great team to deal with. We had many guests staying at the hotel and without exception everyone was well impressed no complaints at all and great breakfast as well. Thank you to Alan and all the team for making our big day absolutely stress free and we look forward to enjoying your hospitality in the future. Marian and Richard Hobbs.

"Daughters Christening 8th May 2016"

5

kayeclark2016, South Shields, United Kingdom
11/05/2016

Amazing customer service from the first phone call and could not be more helpful. Alan is an absolute credit to the hotel and it is obvious he loves the place. The event exceeded our expectations and Alan and his team couldn't do more to help us have the most perfect function. All of my guests commented on how beautiful the room was decorated, the tastiness of the food and how welcoming the staff were. Would not go anywhere else now for any of our functions in the future and I'm sure many of our guests will too. Thank you so much to Alan and his team for a truly wonderful day and we will see you in the future. Kaye and Neil Wetherell.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for your kind review. It is a true team effort to ensure special events work well, I will pass your comments onto the team. Regards Alan

"Surprise"

4

Elaine S, North Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
08/05/2016

After reading some of the reviews I was a bit dubious about my booking. On arrival yes...the hotel reception area is a bit dated, yes...it may not be cutting edge design and yes it's in a bit of an odd vista but...great room, quiet despite being on the main road, warm, comfortable bed. Generous in room tea and coffee...didn't have the breakfast as I don't eat it so can't comment...off to explore as I can see the beach. Would I book again...definitely

"Geoff Thompson "

4

Geoffrey T, Southampton, United Kingdom
04/05/2016

Stayed there 2 nights really good hotel the staff from the receptionists / bar staff / and everybody else are really nice & friendly & also very helpful .The breakfast was also very nice cooked well and presented well by the waitress .The rooms are clean and the beds really comfy.I would definitely recommend this hotel .Thanks to all the staff

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to review the hotel, we hope to see you back soon. Regards Alan

"Dr Maria barrell"

5

230mariab, Gateshead
02/05/2016

Myself and my husband have just had a 3 night wonderful stay at the sea hotel. The manager and staff were professional, friendly, courteous and very efficient. The accommodation and food were excellent. We stayed in the annex which was very comfortable. We will definetely return to the hotel for a meal as well as to stay. Thank you to all the staff for an excellent, quality standard of service.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for all your kind comments. Regards Alan

"One night business stop off"

3

Vivette E, Berkshire, United Kingdom
21/04/2016

Nice hotel, friendly welcome , helpful lady on reception. Feels like a family run place .
Room nice, simple, but everything I needed, tea , coffee, biscuits etc in room . Good toiletries . Iron, trouser press, hairdryer etc all available in room.
The restaurant was nice. Had a very good poached salmon meal. Beautifully cooked and well presented.
Internet available but very poor for speed. This would put me off returning as I was staying on business but the hotel but everything else was such that I would return if not coming here for business. Another plus point is there is a car park on site.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your positive review. The current internet service can suffer when high numbers of customer use it, however we have a dedicated high speed fibre service being installed very soon, the next stage of the installation starts on Monday 25th April. I assure you we are pushing very hard to have the new service installed as soon as possible. When you next need a room in our area, please check if our new still to be completely free internet service is all up and running, I am sure you will be impressed. Regard Alan

"Enjoyable Lunch"

4

moltke1914, South Shields
09/04/2016

We made an impromptu visit for lunch when nearby and the heavens opened threatening to soak us through. We were not at all disappointed.The dining area was warm and moderately busy with a relaxing atmosphere. At a window table overlooking the South Marine Park we were promptly and very efficiently attended to by a delightful young lady called Sarah. Presented with both a comprehensive Alc menu and an extensive lunchtime special menu we ended up ordering from both....
!x potato skins...'scrumptious' 1x veg soup, tasty liquor and lots of nice chunky veg together with soft white buns. 1x mince with leek dumpling,with veg which is not my idea of fun but which my wife reported to be 'thoroughly enjoyable' 1x cod and chips with peas...I don't often eat cod, usually preferring haddock but this was very nice, white and flaky texture in a crisp golden batter. The chips were in my opinion better than those I had been served at Coleman's (as reported a few days earlier). 1x cherry cheesecake described as 'yummy, tasting like a Bakewell tart' 1x Eton Mess which was not constructed as I have usually had them but which was very tasty nevertheless. 2x fresh orange and lemon drink 1x filter coffee. Good value at £34 plus a well deserved tip. We will certainly be calling in again soon.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your kind review. Regards Alan

"Oh my god!"

1

Baggiesguy, Reading, United Kingdom
09/04/2016

"You know what you're getting when booking a Best Westin Hotel" is no longer a statement that holds truth to it.
This is a very tired hotel. Grant you its South Shields, but this hotel and its staff who could not be faulted, deserves more than a little TLC!
The shower above the bath was a joke and like the whole hotel took me back to the 70's. It was a real trial to get a regular temperature going and there was no real flow. I had hot on full and a millimetre or slight touch of the cold tap had you freezing or scolding. There was no happy medium. It was so bad that my wife had a strip wash using the sink.
The bed was old and creaked so much you need hardly move to wake up the room next door but weirdly it provided a full comfortable nights sleep.
The North East might be a depressed area but this is a coastline hotel with sea views and is next to (very next to if you are an early to bed person) a 'fun' park. Plus only a few miles from more beautiful coastline.
A little revamp and it should attract guests and get better reviews than this. Until then Air B&B and Travel Lodge are safer bets.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Firstly thank you for taking the time to review the hotel, I hope you will accept my reply for the benefit of all travellers and visitor to South Shields. I am sorry if the décor style is not to your taste however we maintain it on a daily basis to ensure it is in good repair and develop it on a planned room by room basis. The choice of new furniture, carpets and the like causes many debates on which is best for the customer. I apologise for any fault in operation of the shower, maintenance will identify and repair today. As you would expect we test many items in the bedrooms daily, with the aim that all facilities are working correctly, however some items may fail in use or are identified when used. If I may, I would recommend you report any fault to hotel reception, as on many occasions a simple repair or instruction can solve the problem in minutes. Reviews are both welcome and useful, however this review is about one of the 37 individual bedrooms. Obviously you did not have the opportunity to see the other styles, décor and outlook of other rooms offering sea and park views on ground, first and second floors. The amusement park along with the seafront can be busy over the school holidays, with 12.00 noon through until 7.00pm being the busy time with the amusement park closing at 10.00pm. Rarely do we have comments about noise, however I appreciate everyone is different. If you found noise was an issue, again a move to a park view room or the annex would have solved this instantly. With reference to the area, in your review you write “Granted it is South Shields” which I read implies what do you expect. Yet the area has seen millions of pounds of investment with redeveloped Victorian parks, new promenade, a £16m leisure centre, many pieces of public art and much more in development now in the town centre. I hope your review will not deter anyone from visiting this beautiful coastline. Again for the benefit of other travellers, the beach is within 100yards of the hotel not a few miles as you write. Thank you for your kind comments about the staff, I will continue as we have been and you suggest to revamp the hotel to attract more guests. Regards Alan

"A Comfy Stay"

4

Treena_69, South Shields, United Kingdom
03/04/2016

Was pleasantly surprised with the accommodation, we were in the annex part of the hotel - very clean, comfortable & tidy.
My friend & I dropped in for a stop over. Got the room at a reduced rate & staff were friendly & helpful

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for reviewing the hotel and your kind comments about the staff. Regards Alan

"Near to beach ,shops,fun fair easy to get to places."

4

sweetoea, shropshire
29/03/2016

The room was very comfortable,clean,looking out to the park and lake,breakfast very good,staff all friendly and helpful.fish restaurant attached to hotel ,by service just a few yards away to get to various places , metro also a short walk away,

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review the hotel and its location I am sure it will be helpful for other travellers. I will post your kind comments about the staff onto the staff notice board. Regards Alan

"Out for a meal"

5

User
20/03/2016

Went to the Surfers Bar at the sea hotel with my partner for a meal. Couldn't of been more pleased with the service. Leanne is extremely good at her job she is friendly and very good with all her customers. The food was excellent

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your kind review. Regard Alan

"Been there, done that"

3

Valerie N, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
15/03/2016

I stayed here for a one night business trip whilst working locally. The Sea View Hotel is old and run down. I'm sure there must be a sea view somewhere but my room looked out over a pond which was a shame given the hotel was quiet. The room was clean but old and very cold. I had no working heating although when I asked if someone could check this for me I was given a blow heater which did the job. I'm not sure why the radiators weren't working but this seemed to be the case throughout the hotel.
The staff were pleasant enough but the food was disappointing. I wouldn't return to the hotel as i'm sure there are nicer options nearby.
Been there, bought the t shirt and won't be back.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review; to answer your comments. Firstly please accept my apologies for the heating issues you had, I am unsure of you date of stay but I suspect the date as we had catastrophic failure of the boiler system in the main hotel and have subsequently had two new boilers installed now fully operational. Yes the hotel is old it was built in 1935, however since then we have and continue to develop the hotel with facilities and décor in keeping with both the hotel and market trends. Refurbishment is on-going on a room by room basis other than the ground floor rooms which were completed in mass with all new furniture and soft furnishings. We offer both Park and Sea views. The pond you write about is a boating lake, part of a park which was refurbished and redeveloped at a cost of £5 million offering great facilities for visitors. We offer Ground, 1st and 2nd floor rooms and have single, twin, double, family and rooms suitable for disable access. Although we have always provided free Wi-Fi access, the new fibre cable has just been installed and we are how awaiting the next stage which will provide direct high speed internet access free of charge to ensure our customers have the best. I was sorry to read that you had not enjoyed your food, this is an area that the hotel thrives upon, with a Restaurant, bar meal service, five function rooms, fish and chip restaurant and takeaway serving the sea front. The staff is an area that we constantly get great reviews, I am pleased you found them pleasant enough. I hope you will stay again, may be in a sea view room, just ask and if available we will provide. Kind Regards Alan

"No Thanks"

1

maharajahDurham, durham
13/03/2016

We called into the Sea Hotel one sunday morning hoping to just have a coffee, the receptionist directed us to the lounge where this would be served . En route to the lounge a young lady was busy setting tables whilst chatting to two more of similar age also directed us . we sat in this small room and waited as it appeared that these other two ladies were on a break, but no-one said "I'll be with you shortly " or anything else for that matter we were totally ignored, after about 10 minutes we made our way out , the young lady setting tables asked if we had not been attended to and we said that we had been totally ignored and walked out.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Really BIG SORRY and thanks for the feedback. Your comment prove how useful feedback can be to change procedures to improve future customer service. We would normally direct customers to the bar area with confidence that they would be served promptly as all staff did with you. I have investigated what went wrong on your visit, I have spoken to staff and viewed CCTV recordings and found that the member of staff that should have been behind the bar to serve you had responded to a first aid issue in the kitchen. We are now double checking that service staff are available for orders by taking customers through to the area or in the case of reception contacting the bar staff by phone to advise that customers are requiring service. Once again sorry for any inconvenience.

"Best Sunday Lunch"

5

Molly M, Sunderland, United Kingdom
11/02/2016

Sunday lunches and Christmas day lunches are the best in town! Great value, all made on the premises and delicious. The staff are all welcoming and attentive. Nothing is too much trouble.
Would recommend the Sea Hotel to any one.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for your kind comments. Regards Alan

"Lunch at the Sea Hotel"

5

James W, Sunderland, United Kingdom
29/01/2016

My Wife and I hosted a Sunday lunch for our family members to celebrate a special birthday, although we have enjoyed many other birthdays at this venue, and it was superb. A major wedding anniversary is approaching and again we have no hesitation in booking this hotel again.
The staff, quality and quantity of the meal always live up to expectations.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for your kind comments. Regards Alan

"What more could you want/expect?"

4

LOuise F, Gateshead, United Kingdom
17/01/2016

Stayed a weekend here despite having read some pretty damning write ups on here beforehand.
Upon arrival found hotel to be very clean and the room itself warm and comfortable with plenty space. Ate out in local fab eateries but must say hotel menu looked varied and reasonably priced. Food certainly smelt great!
As previously stated on here the staff are without doubt the friendliest and most welcoming we have met over the years. In particular, Leanne who served us at the bar. Couldn't rate her more highly and if Best Western have a little bonus scheme for shining employees then this lass needs to be top of the list. Lovely to meet someone who clearly loves what she does and where she works!
Overall a lovely little weekend break. Yes the decor a bit tired but for what you pay the high standard of customer service cancels out any complaint about old fashioned furnishings! Can't wait to pop back in!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review the hotel over your stay and for your kind comments about the staff in general. I have spoken to Leanne and thanked her for the service standards she is delivering to customers. We will continue to develop the hotels facilities along with planned redecoration and refurbishment of public areas and bedrooms. I look forward to seeing you back at the hotel soon. Regards Alan

"Good wholesome food and service"

4

Susanbearsandco, South Shields, United Kingdom
17/01/2016

As a large group of school governors we have been having our annual Christmas night out at The Sea Hotel for many years. The menu range is suitable for all tastes and excellent value for money. The waiting staff are always pleasant and serve with a smile! The restaurant décor and tables are always dressed to a high standard. This is what brings us back year after year.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for your kind review
Regards
Alan

"Never fails to provide me with exceptional service"

5

Patricia F, South Shields, United Kingdom
17/01/2016

I am very disappointed in some of the recent reviews I have read as they certainly do not reflect my feelings for the hotel and its staff. I have been a regularly customer for more than 25 years . I go each week for Sunday lunch and twice a year organise a retirees lunch and have other large functions during the year for my youth group so my experience is based on a regular restaurant lunch which is always very busy, a group of 20 for lunch and a party night for 120+. I have never found the food to be anything but of very good quality for the price. I am not always the easiest person to feed as I don't eat sauces, spices etc and the staff always accommodate my requests. Re changes in staff - there are very few hotels where the main staff have stayed for years. The Sea Hotel is fortunate in that is has such loyal and faithful staff which reflects their commitment to the hotel. Naturally the younger staff change as they move on to university and promotion in other jobs but all the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I booked friends from London into the hotel for a two night stay and they were very satisfied with the room and service . Overall I think the Sea Hotel offers excellent service and value for money and is by far the best Hotel in South Tyneside.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your kind comments. We listen to all comments good or bad and improve from them. Some can be a little misleading, the previous reviewer commented on the garlic mushrooms thinking they would be dry with salad, we described it on the menu as “Served in a cream, wine and brandy sauce served with bread to dip. They have probably just looked at the dish title and assumed so not really the hotels fault. The comments by both suggesting that we may not have a chef on duty again is misleading as we served over 160 people with 3 course meals across the Restaurant and function rooms on the evening they dined, not possible without the kitchen brigade. You are correct about some staff moving on after university. Alongside the established staff we recruit around 6 service staff a year, It's great to see new staff working through training especially young people starting work for the first time. Thanks again regards Alan

"Has gone down hill"

3

User
16/01/2016

Myself and my family came for a meal and usually have great service/food. We have come to the restaurant for years and have never experienced anything bad but last night we all thought was disappointing. The specials menu was limited with not a lot of choice compared to normal and we were informed we couldn't pick things from each menu, it had to be all specials or all regular menu (which used to not be a problem.) The 3 waiting staff all looked miserable which gave a bad impression on behalf of the restaurant. One of the waitresses spoke to one of my family members about the menu changing, and the response we got was rude and argumentative. The food itself was terrible, giving the impression there was no chef on. The starters were strange; I got a mushroom soup when I had ordered garlic mushrooms. Thinking it'd be a dry dish with salad but it wasn't. Four of us had chicken which was covered in a tomato purée sauce which was very bitter and the steaks were very over cooked.
Overall we won't be returning due to the poor service and food. Defiantly gone down hill!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Really sorry to read that you had not enjoyed your meal and service, I hope you will accept my apologies. This is the third year we have offered a winter warmer menu, with a 3 course for lunch at £10.00 and 3 course dinner from £12.95. I have to say they have proved very popular with customers, who have complimented the food and value. The chicken valdastana you comment on was the dish that was chosen by the unannounced AA hotel inspector this week, who wrote "Flavour worked well with the rich tomato sauce standing up to the other flavours on the plate without dominating the natural flavour of the chicken itself". I will of course take your comments on board and act on them, I hope you will return soon to experience the usual great food and service that you write about receiving for many years. We will continue to develop menus in line with customer comments and market trends as you would expect. once again please accept my apologies for any disappointment on your last visit and thank you for your positive comments on visits over many years .

"Disappointing ??"

2

Martyxke, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
15/01/2016

We went as a family for an evening meal, as we have done many times in the past. However, due to illness, we hadn't been for some months and were very disappointed. The "winter warmer" menu had a choice of 4 starters, 4 mains & 4 desserts & we were also given a copy of the "A la carte" menu. When the waitress came to take the order, I asked why there was so little choice and she said that it was a special menu & some of the items that used to be on there, were now on the "a la carte" ?? Also if you order off the A la carte menu, you have to order side dishes separately. My sister and I ordered off the winter warmer and she chose chips, so I said I'd get the veg and we could share. The waitress told us the portion was only enough for one, but we took the chance anyway. (There was enough) I asked what happened to putting the veg, chips etc in to serving dishes for the table as in the past & she replied that they were cutting down on waste. Surely that would still be a better option though & customers could always ask for more if necessary? The food was very basic, not very nice & lacked presentation. If we didn't know any better, we would say that the chef had been off and the staff had tried to make the best of a bad job.
The standards have definitely slipped with both the food and staff. (No recognisable faces amongst the staff)
We won't be returning in a hurry.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your review. The evening winter warmer is a special menu offering a three course menu priced at £12.95 with the option of choosing a steak for main course at £2 extra. With the A la carte menu, overall the choice on the evening was from 17 main course options, some of the dishes give you options of what you would like to accompany them, this is included in the main course price, it is simply designed to give you the choice. It was good to read that your order of 1 portion of vegetables and 1 portion of chips was sufficient for 2. We listen to all customer comments and develop menus accordingly, always with the aim to include something for all. I am pleased to say that the new A la carte menu starting in February has a larger choice, with many new dishes. With reference to staffing, we always operate with a senior chefs on duty. I am sorry that you had not seen a familiar face, but I hope I can assure you that the many staff with 5 to 30 years service are still here ready to serve you. Regards Alan

"Cheap hotel"

2

User
13/01/2016

I stayed here for two nights. The fan in the bathroom made A LOT of noise. The shower was not properly cleaned and when taking a shower the water got cold and then very hot. Also there is no pressure in the shower. You get what you pay for.
The breakfast was great and the service was good.

"Fun Night on New Years Eve 2016!!"

5

User
02/01/2016

The Swing Night New Years Eve Cabaret and Disco was lots of fun ! At first sight the Sea Hotel and neighbouring seaside resort may well have seen better days....but do not be deterred as this did not prevent this from being a thoroughly entertaining evening !
We stayed for the night on a bed and breakfast rate...the food was to an excellent standard and the staff were extremely helpful and courteous at all times.....Bob Weaver hosted the evening and was a smash! Rooms were clean and tidy
Thank you to the management and staff at the Sea Hotel!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Good to read that you had a great night and enjoyed your stay. Thank you for all your kind comments. Regards Alan

"Christmas night out "

3

User
19/12/2015

We visited the hotel for our works Christmas night out on December 18th 2015. The hotel does need an update. The staff and waitresses were very friendly. The meal was delicious with a good choice. Meal was served quickly. The room we were in was lovely and warm. Disco was ok. Would visit again but maybe with different entertainment.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your review and your kind comments about Food, Choice, Service and the Room. Many customers return year on year, however each year we contact customers and use social media comments / reviews to update and improve. This year we had a choice of 5 cabaret acts along with disco's . As you can imagine the choice of music to be played is very subjective, at Christmas party disco's we play some Christmas classics along with popular dance songs and customer requests. I have also received positive reviews on the photo booth, new room layout, chair covers and decoration of the rooms. Regards Alan

"Dated Christmas Party Night"

2

Martin N, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
18/12/2015

We attended a Christmas party night tonight and thought the food was acceptable for the price we'd paid but the disco was shockingly awful. When a colleague challenged the DJ about the music he was playing she recieved a really rude response. Please Mr DJ, if you only have 1-4 people on your dance floor you must get the message that your music is rubbish. I won't be returning and as I'm social secretary, neither will my party!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thanks for taking the time to review and hope you will accept my apology for the response from the DJ, I must say that over the years I have used the entertainment company I have found them to be professional, accommodating and polite. I reviewed the CCTV of the night and found that it started with a few on the dance floor but built up to around 40 with other guests dancing around tables. With reference to your comment "Dated Christmas party" Many take a similar format of a meal or buffet followed by entertainment, we offer both Cabaret Nights and Party Nights, this year we added a Photo Booth which proved very popular with over 17,000 views of photographs. Each year I contact a selection of party organisers to get feedback and use this to make changes inline with customers views. Regards Alan

"Christmas party night"

5

Milller3, south tyneside england
11/12/2015

We spent last Friday night at the sea hotel it cost £29.95 each we had a lovely 3 course meal with plenty choices and coffee there were games and comedy hosted by Bob a disco live entertainment a raffle that was going to charity the staff worked hard making sure everyone had a good time . The dance floor was busy the wine flowed we all had a great time posing in the photo booth with Christmas props.
I would definitely recommend that you should celebrate with your friends at one of these party nights

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for your kind review, the photo booth worked really well with over 17,000 views of the photos. Hope to see you at one of our party nights held throughout the year. Regards Alan

"Brilliant venue for occasions"

5

Gillian R, South Shields, United Kingdom
07/12/2015

My mother and her friends recently visited the Sea Hotel for Sunday Lunch - their annual Christmas get together. The staff went the extra mile to provide party poppers and Christmas crackers to the ladies, who were absolutely delighted - it's amazing how the little things can make all the difference. The food was delicious and they had a brilliant time. I'm sure they'll be booking again for their next get together. Thank you.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to review and for your kind comments. Regards
Alan

"Fantastic party night. Excellent value for money and First Class service"

5

patrickjane13, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
04/12/2015

We held our works Christmas party night at this hotel and we cannot fault anything from start to finish. All the staff went out of there way to be helpful on each occasion we visited to organise what we required and also on the night . The food was superb and all cooked fresh , there were about 55 of us and we had a choice of 5 items in each of the 3 courses and ordered in the night.the serving of each course flowed very smoothly and they even had another function on in another room. Everyone who attended the party have had nothing but praise for the food and the staff and also had a great night but a few sore heads today . I had never know the sea hotel was so good and already planning to go back for one of their party nights in January .Thank you to everyone especially Alan for sorting out our requests.

"Good staff but outdated"

3

nahtyal-snibor, Sunderland, United Kingdom
01/12/2015

Visited here for a family wedding. Staff were very polite and helpful. Very nice food and service. The decor is terribly outdated and could do with a revamp, which brought down the whole experience. Also not enough lager on draught and quite pricey drinks.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review. I was sorry to read that you had not enjoyed the décor. We had three wedding events this weekend, the function rooms are quite neutral in colour which allows the rooms to be decorated with table decorations, chair covers, sashes and the like in the colour choice of the Bride and Groom. In general function room furniture for any hotels has not changed very much for years, which is one of the reasons we offer chair covers free in many packages. Tables are clothed and for most events we provide linen napkins, rather than the more disposable paper option. We purchase from leading catering suppliers along with bespoke furniture from a manufacturer in your home town. With reference to draught lager we offer Stella and Becks along with bottled lagers Budweiser, Peroni, Becks and Desperados all priced competitively. Many thanks for your very kind comments about the food we serve and the staff service provided. Regards Alan

"Tired and dated"

2

User
02/11/2015

We stayed at this hotel for a combined Birthday/Anniversary and were pretty disappointed generally. The decor throughout the hotel is tired, dated and really pretty shabby for a Best Western and our room was very bad.
The first problem after checking in was the smell coming from the bathroom, the sealant for both the bath and tiles had come away allowing water ingress; this culminated in a distinct 'cat urine' aroma which was decidedly unpleasant. Our room was right next to the chamber maids cupboard and for 2 mornings (we only stayed 3 nights and complained after the second rude awakening) we were woken up by loud chatter and discussion over which maid would clean which rooms. The continental breakfast selection was sparse, with no natural yoghurt for the last 2 mornings we were there and on the first morning we were presented with our hot choices when we had barely eaten half of the fruit and yoghurt we had sat down to enjoy. The breakfast staff were literally like ghosts and I actually had to go off in search of replacement condiments myself when we ran out of butter. Really quite disappointing so we won't be back next year for our next anniversary and won't be recommending this hotel to others.
SW :-)

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review the hotel for the second time. I was disappointed to read that you had not enjoyed your stay. With your extensive knowledge of the area and your conversations with staff about managing a local catering establishment I was surprised that you noted 3 for the hotels location, it is close to the beach, leisure facilities, many restaurants bars and within easy walking distance of the town centre shops and metro link to Newcastle. The service staff for bedrooms start work at 9.00am on days when last orders for breakfast is 9.30, as with your stay. I have instructed the staff to be as quiet as possible. Please accept my apologise that the breakfast staff were too fast bringing out your cooked breakfast on one morning and too slow in providing more butter for you along with apologies that all the natural yoghurt had been used. I was pleased to read that you took a choice from the fruit yoghurts available. I will increase the stock level to help prevent this from happening again. For the benefit of other travellers the continental selection you write about consists of Grapefruit Segments, Orange Segments, Prunes, Natural Yoghurt, Selection of Fresh Fruit (Banana, Apples, Oranges) Selection of Fruit Yoghurts, Cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Special K, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, Alpen, Weetabix, Co Co Pops, All Bran, Fruit n Fibre, Granola, Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Grapefruit Juice, Tomato Juice, Still Water, Sparkling Water, Croissants, Muffins, Pains au Chocolat, Dried Cranberries, Dried Apricots, Fruit and Nut Mix, Dried Banana, Orange Marmalade, Strawberry Preserve, Blackcurrant Preserve, Honey, Home Cooked Ham, Cheese and Sliced Tomato. I have to agree with you that a section of the bath / shower seal needed replacement and pleased to report that it has been totally replaced. I have instructed maintenance to check the seals in all bathrooms. I have checked, but cannot find any scuff marks on the walls, marks or damage to soft furnishings or carpet of the room you occupied, which is a split level room featuring a sleigh bed on the top level and seating / dressing table on the lower with a 32in TV to swivel between both. For other travellers there is a photograph of this room on TripAdvisor it is the photograph showing a tub chair with brown and teal cushions in the foreground and the sleigh bed behind. Regards Alan

"Tired hotel in need of tlc "

3

cooke_gareth, Cheshire, United Kingdom
28/10/2015

I changed my existing booking to this hotel as it was closer to where I needed to be. This was clearly a mistake. There was nothing overly offensive about the place but just very dreary.
Room ok, view of an amusement arcade and noisy at night even in winter. Could hear a door slamming ever couple of minutes and an alarm going off all night. Bathroom very date but seemed to be clean.
Restaurant was pretty good, fair prices and food ok.
Internet was useless, wifi signal didn't reach bar, restaurant or room and I could only get it near reception.
If you get a deal on this place, want to be in Shields and have low expectations then it's fine.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thanks for your review, many of the views from the bedrooms that overlook the amusement arcade also view the mouth of the Tyne or the coastline and sea. The arcade closes at 10pm and with the main park closed I am unsure what has caused the noise you write about.
As an alternative we also have rooms on the park side of the hotel that offer tranquil view over the marine park. With reference to a door slamming or an alarm going off, a simple call to the night porter would solve any night time issues.
I am sorry to read that you found the hotel dreary, however pleased to report that today's guests that I spoke to that were attending events including a wedding reception and evening function, a diamond wedding anniversary and 2 birthday events all commented on a great friendly atmosphere and service along with kind comments about the food served.
With reference to the free Wi-Fi, please accept my apologies. It is hard to comment as I am unsure if you reported a problem, usually a reset clears any signal issues. Speed is more down to the number of users on at any one time, however we are very close to having a back to cabinet direct fibre line installed which along with new internal hardware will solve all requirements for guests.
I hope you will visit again. A stay without a slamming door and alarm going off and the new fibre Wi-Fi and I am sure you would relax and enjoy. Regards Alan

"Can't fault the place"

5

andrewdryden346, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
23/10/2015

I stayed here for two nights when travelling for business and can't speak highly enough of the room, staff and service I received throughout my stay. I've stayed in many hotels due to my work and this more than meets my requirements. Would thoroughly recommend!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for taking the time to review the hotel. We continue to develop the hotel with both business and leisure in mind. Thanks for your recommendation. Regards Alan

"Family party"

5

miloflying, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
23/10/2015

Another wonderful evening at the Sea Hotel, celebrating a friends birthday. The food and entertainment were fab and the bedroom was clean and comfortable, as ever the staff were friendly and courteous, would certainly recommend it.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thanks for your second review, good to read you had a great time. Hope to see you back at the hotel soon. Regards Alan

"Lovely meal!"

5

ditzy666, uk
23/10/2015

We were at the Sea Hotel working wth Alan to finalize our wedding reception and chose to stay for our evening meal!
I have to say Alan is wonderful! He has helped us plan really well for our wedding and helped us budget making really good suggestions and choices! Very good at what he does - a absolute star!
Our meal this evening was fantastic! We both had a main course! the food was served hot and was absolutely delicious! The restaurant has a lovely relaxing feeling about it! The staff were polite and chatty :)
Well worth a visit and the Mushroo Fu Yung is definately worth a a try!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Good to read that you both enjoyed your meals in the restaurant and the service staff looked after you.Thank you for your kind comments. Regards Alan

"Excellent Restaurant"

4

User
22/10/2015

My wife and I have enjoyed meals at the reataurant of the Best Western Sea Hotel (Frigate) in South Shields for many years and we are never disappointed, The venue has a wonderful extensive menu, available every day, icluding roast meats, fish and a vast number of other choices, The service is always first class. A discount applies at lunchtimes, Mondays to Saturdays. We usually have a meal at weekday lunchtimes but have also been on Sundays over many years. We feel this restaurant is a "hidden gem" that deserves to become much more popular. If you haven't tried it, you are missing out!

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to review the Restaurant. We have a great following of regular customers that meet at the restaurant, along with many customers enjoying the restaurant as a celebration venue, but more are very welcome. Regards Alan

"A depressing experience"

1

TigerTimLincs, Lincs
17/10/2015

I travel the country weekly on business and have experienced many hotels in the 3-star 4-star bracket and the Sea Hotel is easily the second-worst hotel I have encountered in my twenty years of business travel (the worst being the Britannia on Maid Marion Way, Nottingham).
There appears to have been little investment in the rooms, bathrooms or bed linen/blankets for many years so that all is worn and grubby: not a nice place to rest the weary head. There was never any suggestion of apology for deficiencies (broken loo seat, malfunctioning shower, non-delivery of newspaper) - an apology would have eased my dissatisfaction considerably. A different room and new shower hose did not completely resolve the shortcomings of the stay, although at least the loo in the new room wasn't broken. The failings - apart from the dirty blankets and carpet - are small in themselves but all added up and the reaction to complaints were at best defensive and, at the final breakfast, aggressive. It's a management thing: if the staff are led to recognise a standard, they will generally operate to that standard. I was seen as a whingeing old git, I am sure, but the fact remains that this is not a pleasant hotel to stay in. I was very pleased to be out of the place (I expect the staff were pleased as well, but that's not the point.)
Good points? The view from the room of the north bank, ruined abbey and mouth of the Tyne was wonderful, even if it was spoilt by the funfair and car park in the foreground.
Incidentally, Best Western are not a corporate body with a central complaints department, I have discovered. Instead, it is a consortium of independent hotels and any complaints should be addressed to the individual hotel concerned. So that's a waste of time, then.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Dear Tiger Tim
Thank you for posting your comments, however on this occasion I must correct some inaccuracies for the benefit of other travellers and add fact where you have made assumptions or self-criticism.
Firstly I would like to apologise for the non-delivery of your newspaper on one morning of your 3 day stay. I was on duty that morning, on being told that there was a newspaper short I immediately said to the night porter I would go to the local shop to get one, only to be told that you had marched off to get your own. With reference to the repair to the shower hose. I apologised to you in reception and on the second floor, as I had been told about the fault. I was open and honest in my apology admitting that it had slipped my mind, however once prompted I effected the repair fitting a new hose and running a test immediately. To write that there was never an apology is untrue.
With reference to the toilet in the room you rejected. Reception informed me you had reported a fault. As this was the last room available to let, I went to repair it, but could not find any fault with the toilet or the seat. The following day you told me about the fault with the first room so again I checked thinking I must have missed something, but again I could not find anything wrong.
Like many hotels we use the services of a professional laundry service to ensure linen sheets and duvet covers are fresh, crisp and white. We moved away from blankets many years ago and only keep some as back up should a guest request, as you did because you found the duvet was too warm for you.
Your comment of yourself as a "whingeing old git" (your words not mine) and assumption that this was the staff's thoughts / attitude is totally out of order, we have a team of 70 staff that work hard and deliver a friendly polite service for which many thanks and compliments from customers through social media, email, letter, cards and in person are received. I think it is right to note that we received comments from other guests about your manor in the restaurant and it may be this that you refer to.
I was pleased to read that you enjoyed most of the view from your bedroom. The seafront has seen a lot of investment over the past few years including landscaping, public art, leisure centre, new promenade and additional car parking facilities.
After such a damming review and your opening statement of weekly travel on business. I was interested to read your other reviews. With your TripAdvisor membership since 2004, I was surprised to see that you had only reviewed 5 other hotels in the past 11 years.
Sorry, but again I must correct you. Best Western has a central customer service department dedicated to looking after customers, along with a 24 hour international customer service department. You are correct in saying that the 4000 Best Western hotels are all independent, but your assumption that infers customer comments are not worth making to independent hotels is poor advice to fellow travellers and TripAdvisor users. I review all comments, investigate and implement changes to improve the hotel.
Finally I assure you I will use your comments in a positive way for the benefit of customers and the business.
Regards
Alan

"Lovely weekend "

4

User
14/10/2015

Stayed here last weekend with my boyfriend, room was spotless, lovely staff and breakfast was amazing ! Would stay here again great service ! The pubs near by are also good and great for people with family's as there's loads of stuf around 2 do

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thanks for taking the time to review. It was good to read that you enjoyed your stay and the staff looked after you well. Regards Alan

"Bed bugs!"

1

Kevin M, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
13/10/2015

My partner and I stayed at The Sea Hotel last weekend for two nights. We had to move rooms halfway through our stay due to finding bed bugs. Originally noticed one bite on the Saturday but thought nothing of it. My girlfriend then work in the middle of the night to find bed bugs on her, on the bed and in her pillow. We are both now covered in bites from head to toe. Very upsetting situation to be found in and spoiled our weekend away. The manager did move us rooms immediately, but all we wanted to do was go home.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Firstly may I apologise again.
The room you occupied had been used 24 times over the previous 30 days, with the previous guest staying for the 5 consecutive nights prior to your stay with no comments passed or activity shown to give us any indication that there was a problem. The outbreak is contained to one room which has been closed and is being treated by a professional pest control contractor, before being refurbished. I full understand your comments, however I would like to assure you and any other traveller that this is an extremely rare event, which unfortunately can happen anywhere including hotel's.
On the evening I tried to offer the best solution available by providing another room, which as you said you would pull to bits to make sure it was all OK. I was pleased that you and your partner stayed, allowing you to see that it was an isolated outbreak.
Once again I hope you will accept my sincere apologies.

"Good experience"

4

User
05/10/2015

Staff friendly hotel functional and good location for families and metro into Newcastle. Food good, room good slightly noisy mattress and water pressure low in the shower. Adequate parking close to the entrance.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for taking the time to review the hotel it was good to read how well the location worked for you. Thank you also for your kind comments about the staff, food and your room. I will arrange for the mattress to be changed so you and other guests can enjoy a silent nights sleep. Regards Alan

"Tatty but great staff"

3

Nathaniel W, London, England, United Kingdom
02/10/2015

The rooms and lodging common areas are reasonably comfortable, but dated and worn. Good location, bad value. An interesting old building in serious need of renovation. If it weren't for the exceptional staff it would have been a grim stay.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Many thanks for your review, the main building dates back to 1935 and has some interesting features as you state, these we will probably always retain. Development of new design and facilities is on-going, for example we have introduced 3 new style rooms in the annex which also offer great facilities for guests who look for easy access. As I am sure you will agree design is very subjective however we listen to all customer comments and try to develop appropriately in line with them. We are currently working on projects with fibre broadband along with continued guest and public area redecoration and refurbishment. it was good to read that you found the location was good for you. Thank you for your kind comments on exceptional staff. Regards Alan

"Avoid"

2

D D, Norwich, United Kingdom
20/09/2015

First impression was not a good one - The hotel is stuck in a time warp, needs a good lick of pain and some serious TLC Pregnant and with a 17 month old we had 5 flights of stairs to reach our room, threadbare carpet in places,the bathroom was filthy and look tired, door did not shut securely with the handle hanging off and could only be secured by a bolt on the inside (not helpful with a toddler). No cot bed in room despite requesting one when booking. Air lock in bathroom making it impossible to flush loo or use the taps without waking entire hotel at night. Water pressure so poor a watering can would have been our best option when showering. Upon checkout wasn't even asked how our stay had been, receptionist more interested in her phone call, was very dismissive. Cannot fault breakfast staff though, what lovely people.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
I am sorry you had not fully enjoyed your stay. The hotel has family rooms on ground, first and second floors, with many guests preferring higher floors for the views across the parks or out to sea. It is obvious by you review this was a major problem with your stay. I wish you had said upon checking into your room or during your three days, so we could have moved your room to a more suitable floor for your family. As you kindly comment about the breakfast staff we are here to help.
I would like to assure you and other travellers that maintenance department maintain the hotel in good working order. Regular management checks are made, however some faults are identified through guest use of room facilities, when reported these are prioritised as immediate repair required. I have personally checked that the faults you have commented on after your stay have been repaired. Maintenance are checking all bathroom handles, hooks, toilet cisterns and showers for operation to ensure there is no other similar faults.
I hope you will accept my apology for not being asked on departure about your stay, this is a question we ask, The duty receptionist has asked me to note her apology in my reply to you.
We review all guest comments to make improvements, some comments are harder to address you write that the hotel is stuck in a time warp yet another TripAdvisor guest review wrote “Lovely period hotel, obviously this is subjective. We will continue to develop the hotel to keep up to date with technology and customer requirements.
Thank you for telling us about your stay and the personal circumstances which made it awkward, I assure you we will learn from your experience.
Alan Watson
General Manager

"Not too impressive"

3

michelle b, durham city
19/09/2015

Spent a night, as was attending a wedding function. Function room lovely, food at function, lovely, breakfast nice too. Unfortunately, the whole place needs a revamp, scruffy inside! Worst best Western I've ever stayed in, for example damp patches throughout hotel, needs a good paint! We had a family room, my 13 year old was put on a z bed....the mattress was 2cm thick...not good enough really...and I did explain when booking she was a teenager. Staff were ok, not oferly helpful though. I have been in nicer and better quality travel lodges! Would not rush back.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Hi Michelle
Thanks for taking the time to review the hotel. I hope you will accept my apology for any discomfort you feel we have caused. we have 3 types of Z beds and it is quite obvious by your comment the wrong type has been put in your room. Room number 1 in the annex would have been a much better option for your family if it had been available, recently refurbished and full size single bed. Maintenance painting is a daily task at the hotel, however I will ensure the room you occupied is thoroughly checked today. Thank you for your positive comments about the function rooms, function food, restaurant and breakfast. Regards Alan

"Great food stop "

4

User
12/09/2015

Only came here for food..one of the more expensive food places in South Shields but worth it.
A bit of luxury in the restaurant :-) we had 2xburgers and a roast with drinks for under £40
We didn't stop in the hotel but may well do next time.
The hotel is located by the seafront, so lots to do near by.

TheSeaHotel, General Manager at BEST WESTERN The Sea Hotel, responded to this review
Really pleased you enjoyed your meals. The restaurant menu offers a wide variety of choice from traditional roasts through many fish, chicken, meat and vegetarian dishes to casual dining with pasta, burgers and sides. With main courses starting from £9.95 and steaks starting from £12.95. We hope you will return soon and enjoy another value meal. Regards Alan